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No country in the last eight from the AFCON 2021 made it through to the quarterfinal of the AFCON 2023.
The Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, remains the biggest display of African football in its purest form hence it is the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF’s elite competition.
AFCON 2023, the 34th edition of the competition, has showcased a rapid evolution of football, not just in its apparent expansion but also the diversity in the final eight teams over the last two tournaments.
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02:33 - 31.01.2024
Nigeria now overwhelming favourites to win AFCON 2023 according to Supercomputer
Nigeria's quest for a potential fourth AFCON title has been assessed by Opta's Supercomputer
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21:41 - 30.01.2024
AFCON 2023: 100% natural! Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Troost-Ekong pass CAF’s Anti-doping test
The Nigerian trio have been cleared by CAF's anti-doping body after taking tests after the 1-0 win over Cameroon
Here are five (5) reasons why the AFCON has proven to be the world’s best premium tournament.
1. AFCON's underdog tales excite audiences
The AFCON 2023, hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, has been tagged the tournament of the underdogs and it has lived up to the hype so far with more surprises.
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AFCON has delivered unpredictable drama in Ivory Coast, from Burkina Faso to Angola, and now South Africa, who just knocked out favourites and World Cup favourites, Morocco in the last 16.
This particular shift in tides displays the excitement and unpredictability that AFCON brings to the world stage.
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2. Attacking football delivers goal-fest
The attacking style and skill level at the AFCON provides a top-tier spectacle that’s on par with any tournament in the world.
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African nations have exhibited fantastic football, delivering goal-filled excitement that culminated in an unprecedented 89 goals, an average of 2.47 goals per game, in the group stage alone.
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In comparison, that’s just 11 fewer than the 100 scored in the previous edition in Cameroon (2021), with the round of 16 matches producing an extra total of 16 goals.
3. Top officiating and use of VAR
AFCON has set a high standard for refereeing, with top-notch officiating and remarkable use of VAR enhancing the viewing experience.
The commitment to fair play and the effective deployment of technology ensures decisions are mostly accurate.
5. Narrowing gaps between teams
With the underdog status of the AFCON so far, the narrowing gap between teams shows that African football is evolving.
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The expansion of the competition to 24 teams have allowed underdogs to challenge the traditional powerhouses on the continent, creating an unpredictable environment where any team can indeed triumph.
Summary
AFCON continues to deliver premium footballing excitement, evolving quality, and competitiveness that will surely cement its status as the best tournament in the world.
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AFCON 2023 Quarterfinalists
- Nigeria
- DR Congo
- Cape Verde
- Angola
- South Africa
- Ivory Coast
- Mali
- Guinea
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