Former Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf has stated that Senegal are one of the favourite teams to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
The Teranga Lions go into this tournament, which starts on January 13, as the defending champions, having won the 2021 edition in Cameroon.
Diouf also suggested that Morocco, who became the first country to play in the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022, and the 2023 AFCON hosts, Ivory Coast, are second and third favourites for the title.
The former Liverpool of England star, who made 44 appearances for the Senegalese national team before he retired, has tipped his country to defend the title.
El Hadji Diouf said in an interview with Senegalese media outlet Record as per Soccernet:
“Senegal are the favourites, but there are outsiders like Morocco and Ivory Coast, and there are teams that will emerge from the pack as the competition continues.
“Now, the African Cup we won in Cameroon was the responsibility of the management, who pulled out all the stops, but the next AFCON will be the responsibility of the players. And it’s up to them to show that they’re not finished yet.”
The Teranga Lions are drawn in the dicey Group A, which has Cameroon, Gambia, and Guinea.
AFCON Tier List
— International Football Guru SK ⚽ ????️ (@kiani_samy70499) November 11, 2023
???????? Senegal 1st favourites for me to win it
The 7 highest placed nations have a shot at winning AFCON IMO
No team from Group C with ???????????????????????????????? aka as group of death in 'group stage fodder' for now#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023#AFCON2023#AFCON2024#CAN2023 pic.twitter.com/RU0rd9aW4u
