With just over a month and a half to go before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in the Ivory Coast, here are the five most valuable CAF nations heading into the tournament!
The 34th edition of Africa's biggest football event will get underway on 13 January 2024 in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan, and will conclude on 11 February. It is the second successive AFCON that will take place in January and February, with the previous tournament in Cameroon having also been moved from its traditional mid-year scheduling to the first few months due to the impact of COVID-19 and the staging of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in December in Qatar.
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In June last year, CAF president Patrice Motsepe said that the upcoming edition will also be held in early 2024 due to concerns over the weather in west Africa during the mid-year months. "We don't want to run the risk that our top competition is going to be washed out," the South African executive explained, according to ESPN.
Although this decision drew some critics, including those from Europe's big leagues, the stage is now set and the 24 qualified teams were all drawn into six groups last month. Football data platform Transfermarkt has shown which nations are currently the most valuable on the continent based on their current players, with South Africa ranked well outside the top five with their squad value of €37.8 million (R774 million), placing them at 14th on the list.
Here are the five most valuable CAF sides ahead of AFCON 2023!
5. Ghana - €209.53 million (R4.3 billion)
The Black Stars are said to be worth a lofty €209.53 million, with their squad comprising the likes of Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, West Ham United's €43 million (R880 million) signing Mohammed Kudus, the Ayew brothers Jordan and Andre, and Spanish-born striker Inaki Williams. Ghana are the third most successful team in the tournament's history with four titles, won in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982. The majority of their current squad is based overseas and their football federation has made significant efforts in convincing players of Ghanaian descent abroad to represent them, with Williams and English-born star Tariq Lamptey having switched their allegiance in 2022.
4. Senegal - €257.65 million (R5.2 billion)
Transfermarkt indicates that reigning AFCON champions Senegal are only the fourth best team in terms of squad market value. The likes of Sadio Mane, Pape Matar Sarr, Ismaila Sarr, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Nicolas Jackson are all established names at their respective clubs and in Africa. Mane is undoubtedly their most important star, though; his absence from the 2022 FIFA World Cup through injury was heavily felt when they were eliminated from the round of 16 by England. Jackson will be one of their leading talismans at the tournament following his July move from Villarreal to Chelsea in a deal worth €37 million (R757 million).
3. Ivory Coast - €315 million (R6.4 billion)
In third place are tournaments hosts Ivory Coast with a squad value of €315 million. Their team comprises recognised stars such as Wilfried Zaha of Galatasaray, Saudi-based duo Franck Kessie and Seko Fofana, as well as Nottingham Forest pair Serge Aurier and Ibrahim Sangare. The Elephants have two AFCON titles, with their last crown coming in 2015 courtesy of a Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba-inspired squad. In the event that they win the cup in February, they would be the first hosts to clinch the prize on home soil since Egypt in 2006.
2. Morocco - €337.8 million (R6.9 billion)
The No. 1-ranked African team today according to FIFA, Morocco are widely considered the favourites to win the next title following their historic fourth-place finish at the World Cup last December. Their squad is worth a staggering €337.8 million, with players such as Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, and Sofyan Amrabat driving up the value of the team. Senior stars such Hakim Ziyech, Yassine Bounou and Youssef En-Nesyri also push up their worth given they've spent almost their entire careers competing in the best leagues in the world.
1. Nigeria - €461.9 million (R9.4 billion)
This will perhaps be a surprise to some but the Super Eagles are understood to have a chart-topping team in terms of player values. Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is responsible for a huge fraction of this as he is said to be worth a soaring €120 million (R2.4 billion) alone. The supporting cast of Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman, among others, make them an even scarier prospect on the pitch, although their recent results have been underwhelming. Their last AFCON title came in 2013 in South Africa.
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