AFCON: Football's most underrated tournament returns! #shorts

The Opta supercomputer has spoken

Who are the favourites to win this year's AFCON? First of all, AFCON starts on the 21st of December

We're talking 2pm, 4.30pm, 7.30pm and 9pm kick-off times in the UK

Lock in. This is the most underrated international tournament on the planet

In fifth, they have Nigeria. They've got some serious attacking talent in Lukman, Chakwesi, Iwobi and, of course, Victor Ossimen

But defensively, they're weak. They have Calvin Bassi, but Will Troucet-Ekong, their captain and player of the tournament in the 2023 AFCON, retired just weeks before this tournament started

In fourth, Algeria, despite back-to-back group stage exits in the last two tournaments

They did win AFCON in 2019, though, and when you have Riyad Mahrez, anything is possible

They have, in theory, an easy group, which helps these odds. Third, Senegal. They battered England earlier this year and looked good versus Brazil last month

They're loaded with attacking talent. Sadio Mane, Ilyam Anjai, Ismail Assar and Nicholas Jackson

offer exceptional versatility, technique and pace. They're my personal pick, if that means anything

Second, they've got Egypt. They're the team to watch. The most successful team in tournament history

all eyes will be on Mo Salah. If there was ever a time to win his first ever AFCON

it would be now. Shout out Omar Mahmoud too. But the favourites are, of course, Morocco

World Cup semi-finalists in 2022 and the hosts, they've won 18 games in a row

scoring 50 and conceding just four in that time. Mental. Hakimi's back

They've got home advantage. This is their time