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As the African Cup of Nations draws closer, the buzz and excitement has reached a fever pitch.  

To add an extra layer of excitement, bettors who are interested in cashing out during the AFCON can now enjoy free betting tips today on Nigeria’s one-stop shop for online sports betting, [BetKing.](https://m.betking.com/blog/betting-tips/)  

  
**Road to the final** 

The 2021 edition was hosted by Cameroon. This year, all roads lead to Ivory Coast.  

The group stage matches are set. Participating countries have released their squad lists. African footballers across various leagues have answered the call to represent their national teams.  

24 countries will battle it all out in 36 group stage matches, 6 per group. The top teams automatically qualify for the round of 16 where they will be joined by 4 of the best third-placed teams. In the fight for glory, 8 teams will fall at the round of 16 while the other 8 will progress to the quarter finals where another 4 will fall.  

Only two teams will progress to the final, one from each semi-final match. Two losing semi-finalists will face off in a 3rd place match, while the other two conquering teams will battle for the ultimate crown on the final day. Who do you think those teams will be? 

[While nations like Senegal, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast are deservedly viewed as favourites,](https://m.betking.com/blog/news/afcon-2023-the-contenders/) there are other countries who can give you even higher value if they win the whole thing. Why? Because they’re the underdogs who will guarantee you high odds.   

In this article, we’ll evaluate the underdogs who could go all the way to emulate Zambia’s 2012 AFCON winners.  

  

**Top AFCON 2023 Underdogs**   

Ghana:  If this were the 90s or mid-2000s, Ghana would be one of the favorites to lift the AFCON trophy.  The Black Starts have a proud AFCON heritage -they’ve won the competition four times from just nine final trips. Sadly for fans of the Black Stars, much has changed since their golden days.  

Ghana’s football suffered  a significant setback in 2018, which led to the dissolution of the country’s football governing body following the involvement of the then association president, Kwesi Nyantakyi in a cash gifts scandal. That same year, they failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Russia.   

At AFCON 2019, the Black Stars failed to make it past the second round, and in 2022 they finished bottom of a group containing Morocco, Gabon, and Comoros, picking up a solitary point in three matches. Nevertheless, Ghanaian football has been on the rise since Chris Hughton replaced Otto Addo as head coach after the 2022 World Cup. The new English manager oversaw a smooth qualifying process for the West Africans, going unbeaten in six games. Recent results have been troubling, however, as Ghana lost thrice, won once, and drew their final preparatory game against Namibia.  

To make matters worse, they’ll have to make do without the services of Thomas Partey, who has been ruled out of AFCON 2023 with an injury he picked up with club side, Arsenal. Nonetheless, the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, and Inaki Williams are dangerous players that can swing a match at a moment’s notice. First, however, they will need to qualify from a group containing Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.   

As always, we have put together the best betting offers.  

Bet On Ghana To Win Group B 

● Bet On Ghana To Reach the Semi Final   

● Bet On Ghana To Win To Reach the Final

● Bet On Ghana To Win Afcon 

**Mali:** Les Aigles’ best finish at the African Cup of Nations was in 1972, where they lost by 3-2 to DR Congo in the final. The Malians made it to the semifinals in 1994, 2002 and 2004 but sadly, fell short of reaching the final again on those occasions before eventually losing all the 3rd place matches.   

In 2012 and 2013, they went one better and finished 3rd twice in a row. They did not kick on after that but would regress in the following years as they were eliminated at the group stage in 2015 and 2017 before consecutive 2nd round exits in 2019 and 2022. The point? Nothing about their history suggests that they can win this tournament.  

However, the Mali of 2024 is a much different one from the one that turned up at AFCON 2021. Ahead of AFCON 2023, the Malians finished top of their qualifying group with 15 points from a possible 18, losing just once and securing 5 wins in a group that also contained Gambia, Congo, and South Sudan.   

How did they do this? Upfront, Saint Etienne’s Ibrahim Sissoko and Red Bull Salzburg’s Dorgeles Nene are dangerous goal threats. In midfield, Lassana Coulibaly and Aliou Dieng complement Mohamed Camara and Yves Bissouma perfectly, ahead of a rock-solid defence line.   

Fifteen goals scored with just two conceded; Mali is a free-scoring and defensively disciplined team and if they can replicate their qualifying round exploits in Ivory Coast, their opponents will be in for a very rude shock indeed. 

● Bet On Mali To Win Group E 

● Bet On Mali To Reach the Final 

● Bet On Mali To Win AFCON 2023 

**Equatorial Guinea:** The Elephants of Equatorial Guinea are set to participate in their fourth tournament with one goal in mind: to reach/win their first final after crashing out at the quarter-final stage in all three previous editions.  

Following their 2012 debut as co-hosts, the Central African nation made it all the way to the semi-finals in 2015 where they eventually finished fourth after losing 4-2 on penalties to DR Congo in the third-place play-off.  They reached the quarterfinals again in 2021, but lost 3-1 to eventual champions, Senegal.  

Head Coach, Juan Micha led Mali to AFCON 2023 with a 2nd-place finish behind Tunisia in Group J with 13 points, narrowly edged out by the North Africans on goal difference. Unfortunately for them, they’ve been drawn alongside Nigeria, [fellow “Guinea” side, Guinea Bissau](https://m.betking.com/blog/betting-tips/afcon-2023-preview-which-guinea-reigns-supreme/) and hosts, Ivory Coast in Group A. 

Where Equatorial Guinea can trouble more established teams is in the consistency of their play. Their defense-first approach and the willingness of the entire squad to work for each other means that the team’s output is often greater than the sum of its parts.  

Will they win AFCON 2023? Maybe not. But then again, who knows? The chance to multiply your stake by a minimum of 67 is an intriguing one, however.   

● Bet On Equatorial Guinea To Win AFCON 2023  

● Bet On Equatorial Guinea To Reach the Semi Final 

**Burkina Faso:** Burkina Faso’s 13th attempt is one their fans hope will secure them their first title and improve on their 2013 2nd-place finish. 

Led by uber-composed Bayer Leverkusen defender, Edmond Tapsoba and Aston Villa forward, Bertrand Traore, they have leaders with extensive top-level experience. Tapsoba is expected to lead the rearguard and keep things tight at the back, while Betrand Traore will lead the attacking thrust.  At 28 years old, the latter is one of the most dangerous wingers at the tournament and will be conscious that a good performance either thrusts him to the forefront of Unai Emery’s mind or reminds interested suitors of his talent. 

The Stallions have exceeded expectations over the last decade, finishing 2nd in 2013, 3rd in 2019 and 4th in 2022.  After finishing top of their qualifying group with 11 points from 6 games, Hubert Velud’s men will be confident that they can advance beyond the semifinal of AFCON 2023 if they play well and luck is on their side.  

First, they will need to qualify from Group D against Angola, Mauritania and 2019 winners, Algeria.  

● Bet On Burkina Faso To Win Group D 

● Bet On Burkina Faso To Reach the Semi Final 

● Bet On Burkina Faso To Reach the Final   

**Zambia:**  And finally, we have the team that inspired this article. Twelve years ago, Zambia made history by defeating Cote d’Ivoire’s golden generation to win AFCON 2012.  

However, in the 11 years since then, Zambia has faced several challenges, exiting the group stage in the 2013 and 2015 editions, and failing to qualify for the last three tournaments. Now, under the leadership of former Chelsea boss, Avram Grant, the Chipolopolo aims to prove that lightning can strike twice.   

Drawn alongside tournament favourites Morocco, Tanzania, and the DR Congo, Zambia faces a tough challenge. Nonetheless, Avram Grant is no stranger to African football and the AFCON, having led Ghana to AFCON 2015 and 2017, finishing 2nd and 4th respectively.  They qualified for this tournament as group winners, securing 13 points after recording 4 wins and 1 draw in 6 games, and even thrashed hosts Ivory Coast 3-0 in the process.     

The Zambian player to watch out for is Patson Daka; a player who made history as the first Zambian to score in the English Premier League during Leicester City’s 2021–22 season.  Although the 25-year-old striker has had limited playing time this season, AFCON 2023 provides an opportunity for Daka to showcase his skills and remind the world of his best attributes.   

If you’re superstitious, note this: The hosts of this year’s AFCON were Zambia’s final opponents in 2012. Whether that’s a good omen or not remains to be seen. However, if you choose to back the Chipolopolo, we have all the best odds, as usual. 

● Bet On Zambia To Qualify From Group F 

● Bet On Zambia To Win Group F 

● Bet On Zambia To Reach the Semi Final 

● Bet On Zambia To Reach the Final 

● Bet On Zambia To Win AFCON 2023 

If there is an underdog win at AFCON 2023, we think it will be one of these five teams. What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 

Throughout AFCON 2023, we’ll have regular AFCON updates, expert betting tips, exciting bouses & offers, and much more. [Sign up for a BetKing](https://m.betking.com/account/registration)account to ensure that you never miss out on any exciting opportunities! 

    

The beauty of underdogs winning is that they're valued at higher odds than favorites. Find out who the likely underdogs at AFCON 2023 are and win big!

News

AFCON 2023: Cash out betting on underdogs.

Bet On Ghana To Win Group B

● Bet On Ghana To Reach the Semi Final

● Bet On Ghana To Win To Reach the Final

● Bet On Ghana To Win Afcon

● Bet On Mali To Win Group E

● Bet On Mali To Reach the Final

● Bet On Mali To Win AFCON 2023

● Bet On Equatorial Guinea To Win AFCON 2023

● Bet On Equatorial Guinea To Reach the Semi Final

● Bet On Burkina Faso To Win Group D

● Bet On Burkina Faso To Reach the Semi Final

● Bet On Burkina Faso To Reach the Final

● Bet On Zambia To Qualify From Group F

● Bet On Zambia To Win Group F

● Bet On Zambia To Reach the Semi Final

● Bet On Zambia To Reach the Final

● Bet On Zambia To Win AFCON 2023

News

AFCON 2023: Cash out betting on underdogs.

Bet On Ghana To Win Group B

● Bet On Ghana To Reach the Semi Final

● Bet On Ghana To Win To Reach the Final

● Bet On Ghana To Win Afcon

● Bet On Mali To Win Group E

● Bet On Mali To Reach the Final

● Bet On Mali To Win AFCON 2023

● Bet On Equatorial Guinea To Win AFCON 2023

● Bet On Equatorial Guinea To Reach the Semi Final

● Bet On Burkina Faso To Win Group D

● Bet On Burkina Faso To Reach the Semi Final

● Bet On Burkina Faso To Reach the Final

● Bet On Zambia To Qualify From Group F

● Bet On Zambia To Win Group F

● Bet On Zambia To Reach the Semi Final

● Bet On Zambia To Reach the Final

● Bet On Zambia To Win AFCON 2023

● Bet On Ghana To Reach the Semi Final  

● Bet On Mali To Reach the Final

● Bet On Burkina Faso To Reach the Final  

● Bet On Zambia To Win Group F 