A new artificial intelligence-based prediction places five-time champions Cameroon as the 7th most likely nation to secure the African Nations Cup trophy.
The predictions, provided by the data organization, Opta, in collaboration with BBC Sports, suggest that Cameroon holds a 7.5% chance of winning the competition.
The event kicks off in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, this Saturday, January 13.
Defending champions Senegal are leading the predictions with a 12.8% chance of clinching the trophy.
Led by Al Nassr striker Sadio Mane, Senegal is seeking to retain the title won in Cameroon last year.
The host country, Ivory Coast, follows closely with a 12.1% chance, aiming for a third AFCON trophy after winning in 1992 and 2015.
Morocco secures the third-best chance of winning according to the predictor model, standing at 11.1%.
Despite winning the AFCON in 1976, Morocco has faced challenges in recent tournaments, failing to progress beyond the quarter-finals in the last seven appearances.
Algeria, with a 9.7% chance, is the fourth-most likely winner, while Egypt holds the fifth position with an 8.5% chance.
Cameroon, a five-time AFCON champion (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, and 2017), is ranked seventh with a 7.5% chance, trailing behind three-time winners, Nigeria, at 8.1%.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are in good form. They boast incredible goal scorers like Victor Osimhen, who was recently crowned Africa’s best player for 2023.
The AFCON 2021 hosts, Cameroon, faced a setback in the previous edition, failing to convert three of their four spot-kicks during a semi-final shoot-out against Egypt in Yaoundé.
Under the coaching guidance of former defender Rigobert Song, Cameroon is given a 7.4% chance of lifting the AFCON trophy.
This likelihood is subject to change based on their performance, particularly in the crucial encounter against Senegal on Matchday 2 in Group C.
Vincent Aboubakar, the Golden Boot winner in 2021, is set to captain Cameroon once again.
His impressive record includes scoring eight goals from 13 shots on target across seven games, while Karl Toko Ekambi netted five times.
Opta’s predictions break down Cameroon’s chances in various stages of the competition as follows:
- Group winner – 33.5%
- Reach last 16 – 82.3%
- Reach quarter-finals – 47.6%
- Reach semi-finals – 27.8%
- Reach final – 14.9%
- Winner – 7.4%
