Man City legend names two of Nigeria's opponents, South Africa, Senegal, Morocco as potential AFCON winners 

Manchester City and Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure has named five countries he believes can win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and has strangely left out the Super Eagles from his list of potential winners. 

Toure, who is currently Saudi Arabia's assistant coach, named his country Ivory Coast, defending champions Senegal, South Africa, Guinea-Bissau and Morocco as the teams he considers as front-runners to win the upcoming tournament. 

With the exception of Guinea-Bissau, the aforementioned countries have all won the Africa Cup of Nations in the past. 

The Super Eagles face Ivory Coast at Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan on January 18 and will wrap up group play four days later against Guinea-Bissau at the iconic Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.

Giving his take on his favorites to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Toure was quoted as saying by Afrique Sports: "It’s normal to have a preference for your own country. Côte d’Ivoire has a strong team and many talented and experienced players.

"But if I had to choose the teams I think are favourites, I’d say Senegal, Morocco, Guinea-Bissau and South Africa. They had an impressive qualifying campaign."

A four-time African Footballer of the Year, Toure was in the Elephants team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015 and finished as runner-ups in 2006 and 2012.

He faced Nigeria three times at the Africa Cup of Nations, winning two and losing the other. 

Igho Kingsley 

Photo Credit: fif-ci.com

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