Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-01 05:39:17
Following the unexpected early ouster of some of the top-rated teams from the Africa Cup of Nations, bookmakers have identified Nigeria as the new favourites to win the title. The competition, which initially saw Morocco and Senegal as the clear frontrunners, has been turned on its head with the elimination of these teams, along with others such as Egypt, Ghana, and Cameroon. In their place, previously underrated teams such as Angola, Cape Verde, and South Africa have emerged as potential champions.
Cote d’Ivoire, the hosts of the tournament, were also almost written off after the first round of matches, but have since been tipped by bookmakers to possibly go all the way. Leading bookmakers, Hollywoodbets, have installed Nigeria as the new tournament favourites at 37/20, followed by Cote d’Ivoire at 3/1. Mali (6/1) and DR Congo (10/1) follow next, with South Africa, who defeated Morocco, installed as potential champions at 11/1.
The optimism isn’t limited to bookmakers, as the Opta supercomputer also predicts that Nigeria is the favorite to win the tournament, with Mali and Cote d’Ivoire topping off the list of favorites.
Many agree with the bookmakers, including South Africa’s Dean Furman, who has tipped Nigeria to go all the way, emphasizing their ability to win big games and their possession of big game players. However, not everyone is backing Nigeria to win. Ex-Angola international central defender, Kali, has predicted that the Palancas Negras will beat the Super Eagles in their quarterfinal showdown.
With two of the pre-tournament favorites, Senegal and Morocco, knocked out of the competition, the remaining eight countries believe they have a real good chance of winning the Africa Cup of Nations. The early exit of the top teams has opened the door for previously underrated nations to step up and claim the title.
Expert predictions and bookmakers have cast Nigeria as the team to beat, however, the competition is filled with the possibility of surprise upsets. Each team will have to step up and deliver in order to emerge as the champions of the Africa Cup of Nations.
