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By: Ebenezer Bajela.
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Friday Ekpo, has tipped quartet Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco as favourites to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 34th edition of the biennial showpiece will hold from January 13 to February 11, 2024 across five cities on the south coast of West Africa.
The Eagles avoided a confrontation against one of the North Africans after being paired in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
Jose Peseiro’s men were, however, handed a tricky start to their campaign with a game against the National Thunder, as the Equatorial Guineans are fondly called.
Nigeria, three-time AFCON winners, will strive to clinch the title once again, having previously triumphed in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
The Eagles begin their quest for their fourth title against Juan Micha’s men January 14 before squaring off against the hosts January 18 at the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan in one of the most highly anticipated games of the tournament’s group stage.
Speaking with PUNCH Sports Extra, Ekpo, who featured at the 1992 AFCON in Senegal, said the odds favoured the North Africans to win the tournament.
“The North African countries are my favourites to win the AFCON because they have always been consistent,” the 54-year-old said.
Ekpo, who had 19 appearances for Nigeria and scored five goals, also believes the Elephants are also in the running for the title next year.
He added, “Don’t forget the Ivorians are also there because they are the hosts and they have quality players outside the continent. There will be so much pressure on them to at least get to the quarter-finals of the tournament and once they do, they will believe they can win. I also see one of the underdogs causing an upset and going far.”
