African Cup of Nations 2024: Favorites, Price Money, Players to Watch

This tournament is Africa's most prestigious football event, held once every two years. This edition is set to be hosted in Ivory Coast, and it promises to be a thrilling event. AFCON will feature twenty-four (24) teams from across the continent and will be played in six cities across Ivory Coast. The tournament is set to feature some of the best players from across the continent, and fans can expect to see some thrilling football matches. Teams such as Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia are expected to be among the favorites to win the tournament, but there could also be some surprise packages. As we look forward to AFCON, there is no doubt that the competition will once again capture the imagination of football fans across the continent.

The Lions of Teranga side are the defending champions and seem to be one of the most consistent teams in the competition. Senegal have won the tournament only once in their history but stand a better chance of defending it.

Coach: Aliou Cisse

FIFA ranking: 20th

Key players: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), Isamila Sarr (Marseille), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal)

The Pharaohs are the most successful team in the history of the tournament, with seven titles to their name. It's interesting to note that Egypt was defeated twice by Senegal in 2022, with both matches being decided on penalties. The first defeat was in the AFCON final, and the second one was in the World Cup qualifying match. In both matches, Senegal's Sadio Mané scored the winning penalties. After the tournament, Egypt had to relieve coach Carlos Queiroz of his duties. However, since the appointment of their Portuguese tactician, Rui Vitoria, the pharaohs have won twelve, drawn once, and lost a game.

Coach: Rui Vitoria

FIFA ranking: 33th

Key players: Mohammed Salah (Liverpool), Mohamed El-Shenawy (Al Ahly), Zizo (Zamalek)

The Eagles have struggled to make a name for themselves since the tournament began, and their best result has been a runner-up in 1972. Their most recent appearance in this tournament earned them a round-of-16 finish. However, Mali have been in blistering form lately, with seven games of undefeated runs in all competitions. They have exciting and talented young guns in their rank, and I personally rate them so high, wishing them a great tournament.

Coach: Eric Chelle

FIFA ranking: 51st

Key players: Boubacar Traore (US Monastir), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly), Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur)

The Greens have triumphed twice in this competition but failed to make it out of the group phase in the 2022 edition. Algeria were unable to win any of their group matches, ending up at the bottom of the standing. Since that disappointing outing, the Desert Foxes have lost just two times in their previous thirty games in all competitions. It's always exciting to see young talent emerge in sports, especially in big tournaments like this. And with experienced players to guide them, the North African team definitely has the potential to make an impact. As for Riyad Mahrez, it's bittersweet to think this might be his last AFCON, but I'm sure he'll give it his all and be a key player for his team.

Coach:Djamel Belmadi

FIFA ranking: 30th

Key players: Riyad Mahrez (Al Hilal), Youcef Belaili (MC Alger), Faris Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt)

The lowly-ranked teams in the 2024 AFCON Tournament are Tanzania, Angola, Namibia, Gambia, and Guinea Bissau. These teams indeed have a lot on their plate, and it seems like they are counting on nothing but a miracle to make it through the group phase.

Senegal has the best team to build an ultimate team; they are rich with highly-rated world-class players from top European leagues. 

AFCON Winner's Prize Money has been elevated to USD 7,000,000, which is a remarkable 40% surge from the previous AFCON Prize Money. This increase will contribute to the development of African football, benefit all football stakeholders, and assist Member Associations in their administrative efforts, according to the CAF President. At the same time, the Runner-up in this prestigious competition will receive an increased prize of USD 4,000,000. It's also good to know that each of the two semi-finalists will be granted USD 2,500,000, and the four quarter-finalists will receive USD 1,300,000 each.