2023 AFCON: Moroccan Official Rejects Favourite Tag, Says It's An Open Competition

2023 AFCON: Moroccan Official Rejects Favourite Tag, Says It's An Open Competition

Sampson Adedeji

The Technical Director of the Confederation of African Athletics and Moroccan football official Aziz Daouda has rejected the favourite tag placed on the Atlas Lions ahead of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The performance of the Atlas Lions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup raised the hope of many football fans and stakeholders and believe they have what it takes to win the competition.

But Daouda thinks it will be an open tournament and anyone can actually win the cup.

"For me, there isn't just one favourite. If we take the criteria of titles, it will be Egypt.

If we take the last editions as a yardstick, this status will go to Algeria, crowned champions in 2019, and Senegal, victorious in 2021 and runners-up in 2019. 

Côte d'Ivoire will even be the favourite as two-time African champions and hosts of the competition. I think it's going to be a very open competition. 

It's good for African soccer that there isn't just one favourite," he said.