AFCON 2023 Groups

The group stage promises to be a battleground for football supremacy. With six groups featuring powerhouse nations and emerging football talents, fans are in for a treat as teams vie for a coveted spot in the knockout stages. Below we take a closer look at the groups and the teams set to dazzle the continent during the AFCON 2023.

The Group Draw

Based on the latest FIFA world rankings (included below in brackets) the 24 teams that had qualified were put into 4 pots. As host nation Ivory Coast was included in pot 1 even so they are currently ranked as the ninth-best nation in Africa. The four pots contained the following countries:

• Pot 1: Ivory Coast (50), Morocco (13), Senegal (20), Tunisia (29), Algeria (34), Egypt (35)
• Pot 2: Nigeria (40), Cameroon (41), Mali (49), Burkina Faso (58), Ghana (60), DR Congo (64)
• Pot 3: South Africa (65), Cape Verde (71), Guinea (81), Zambia (82), Equatorial Guinea (92), Mauritania (99)
• Pot 4: Guinea-Bissau (106), Mozambique (113), Namibia (114), Angola (117), The Gambia (118), Tanzania (122)

Overview AFCON2023 Groups

Group A

• Ivory Coast
• Nigeria
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea Bissau

Nigeria was seeded in the same Group A as the host nation Ivory Coast. Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau complete the first AFCON group. Nigeria’s Super Eagles are one of the favourites to win the tournament. The three-time African champions definitely hope to progress from the group phase into the knockout stages, as they charge for a fourth title. Ivory Coast also has what it takes to qualify for the knockout stages. Furthermore the Elephants can count on the support of the home crowd. In many tournament we have seen this to be a powerful motivator for boosting confidence and determination. The AFCON 2023 hosts will undoubtedly leverage this advantage and turn the support of their fans into a potent force on the field. Let’s not forget about Equatorial Guinea as well as Guinea-Bissau. Both would want to stand and be counted, thus making it overall a difficult AFCON group.

Group B

• Egypt
• Ghana
• Cape Verde
• Mozambique

Egypt and Ghana, two football powerhouses, headline AFCON Group B, joined by Cape Verde and Mozambique. The clash between Egypt and Ghana is already marked as a must-watch encounter. Furthermore both are amongst the favourites to win this year’s tournament. That is to say, the underdogs from Cape Verde and Mozambique could spring surprises and upset the established order.

Group C

• Senegal
• Cameroon
• Guinea
• Gambia

Current cup holder Senegal obviously would like to repeat their success from 2021. But they face quite a tough group. Especially the encounter with Cameroon will be a challenge and both teams will aim for victory. Guinea as well as Gambia won’t be pushovers which can make this AFCON group quite a competitive battleground.

Group D

• Algeria
• Burkina Faso
• Mauritania
• Angola

Group D showcases the prowess of North African football, with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola set to battle for supremacy. Algeria, the 2019 champions, will be keen on repeating their previous success, but Burkina Faso and Mauritania have the potential to cause upsets.

Group E

• Tunisia
• Mali
• South Africa
• Namibia

Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, and Namibia make up Group E. Tunisia has shown a strong performance and is hence the team to beat. But Mali and South Africa bring their own strengths to the table. Furthermore Namibia, the underdog, could pose a threat and add an element of unpredictability to the group.

Group F

• Morocco
• DR Congo
• Zambia
• Tanzania

In Group F, Morocco faces tough competition from DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania. Morocco is boasting a talented squad and showed a great performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. There the team finished fourth and is expected to navigate through a challenging AFCON 2023 group. However, the unpredictability of African football means that any team can emerge as a dark horse and upset the balance.

AFCON 2023 Groups – Let’s get ready for kick off

As the AFCON 2023 groups are now drawn we are ready for the tournament to kick off. We expect a rollercoaster of emotions, from the thrill of last-minute goals to the heartbreak of unexpected defeats. The diversity of talent, playing styles as well as team dynamics across the groups promises a tournament full of surprises. The AFCON 2023 group stage is sure to deliver captivating moments and therefore lots of betting opportunities. Make sure you check PrideBet for the latest odds as well as special AFCON 2023 promotions.

All group winners and runners-up as well as the four highest-ranked third-placed teams qualify for the knockout stage. Let’s cross our fingers that the Black Stars will go through!