As the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations approaches, Nigeria’s leading online sports betting giants, BetKing examines the touchline titans prowling the touchline all tournament long. These masterminds of the game are poised to shape the narrative of AFCON 2024 and one of them will lead their team to glory in Ivory Coast. Who do you think it will be? Here are the top five coaches to watch-out for at AFCON 2024.
**1. Aliou Cisse (Senegal): ** As a player, Aliou Cisse captained Senegal and became the head coach of the Teranga Lions in 2015. He led Senegal to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and guided the West African giants to AFCON 2019 where they lost to Algeria 1-0 in the final. Three years later, he got over the heartbreak of 2019 by leading Senegal to victory, beating Mohamed Salah’s Egypt on penalties following 120 goalless minutes. Known for his compact 4-2-3-1 formation at AFCON 2022 where a solid midfield supported the front line and covered for the flying wing backs, the 45-year-old could switch up his tactics in Ivory Coast. In qualifying, he led Senegal through an unbeaten qualifying run with 4 wins and 2 draws to finish top of Group L and experimented with several different formations. One tactical tweak could be to have his starting forward (likely Chelsea striker, Nicholas Jackson) press more often to free up Sadio Mane, his most dangerous attacker. Either way, it will be interesting to watch Senegal try to defend an AFCON win; something no other African side has managed since Egypt in 2010.
**2. Walid Regragui (Morocco):** Walid Regragui is the second former-player-turned-coach on this list. The Moroccan is viewed as one of the best managers in world football after leading the Atlas Lions to the semifinal stage of the 2022 World Cup. The 48-year-old took charge of the Morocco in August 2022, barely 4 months to the opening game of Qatar 2022. Within that short period, he transformed the team into world beaters and Morocco became the first African nation to win their World Cup group with 7 points. In the round of 16, the tactical brilliance of Regragui guided the North Africans past European powerhouses, Spain, and Portugal before losing to France and Croatia in the semifinal and third-round fixtures. After the World Cup, he led Morocco to 2nd place in the qualifiers to qualify for AFCON 2024 with his preferred 4-3-3 attacking formation and the bulk of his record breaking world cup team still at his disposal. As a result, Morocco is viewed as one of the favorites to win AFCON 2024.
**3. Djamel Belmadi (Algeria):** The former Algerian international-turned coach took charge of his country’s national team in 2018. He later led the Desert Foxes to their 2nd AFCON crown in style, winning all three group stage games in a group that had the eventual beaten finalists, Senegal, along with Kenya and Tanzania. In the knockout phase, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria all fell to Algeria before they met and defeated Senegal for the 2nd time to be crowned African champion in 2019. However, Belmadi failed to help his team replicate that form in 2021 as the Desert Foxes finished with just a single point in the group stage. Additionally, Algeria failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, leading for many to call for his sacking/resignation. Ahead of AFCON 2024, those same detractors have cause to be optimistic - Algeria topped their group in the AFCON qualifiers, going unbeaten and amassing the most points in the qualifiers (16) after securing 5 wins and 1 draw. As a result, Belmadi has a chance to once again lead his country to glory as one of the best teams in the competition.
**4. Chris Hughton (Ghana):** With his $50,000 per month salary, Chris Hughton is the highest paid coach heading into the 2024 African cup of Nations. Fans of the English Premier League will be familiar with Ghana’s head coach from the days when he managed Newcastle United, Norwich City and Brighton. The 65-year-old tactical maestro was initially appointed as a technical adviser to the then head coach Otto Addo in 2022. When Addo stepped down after the 2022 World Cup, Hughton took over from the Ghanaian. His preferred 3-4-3 counter attacking formation guided the Black Stars to the top of their group in the qualifiers with 12 points and going unbeaten through the qualifying process after securing 3 wins and 3 draws with only three goals conceded. He hasn’t had a lot of experience in African football but his reputation from the English Premier League and the presence of players of the calibre of Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey and Inaki Williams will make his job a lot easier. Ghanaians will be as excited as any other country about the possibility of winning AFCON 2024. And why not? They have a head coach that can make as big a difference as any.
**5. Rui Vitoria (Egypt):** Rui Vitoria became the manager of the Egyptian national team, signing on a four-year contract in July 2022. He is relatively new to African football; AFCON 2024 will be his first major tournament on the continent. However, he is a serial winner and popular for his success in the Portuguese first division, where he led Benfica to 2 league titles, 1 League Cup, 1 Portuguese Super Cup and 1 Portuguese Cup with the Eagles and Victoria Guimaraes. He also went on to coach Al Nassr where he delivered the Saudi Pro league title and the Saudi Super Cup. One thing is certain, he is a proven winner and after coming close in 2017 & 2021 only to lose in the final, Vitoria could be the man to land Egypt’s 8th AFCON title in Ivory Coast. His preferred 4-3-3 formation and the presence of two-time CAF African Player of the Year, Mohammed Salah, will be instrumental. Salah, in particular, will be itching to win this one having lost two finals already. And with a relatively straightforward group to start off the competition, they have a very good chance to get some momentum under their belt.
So, there you have it, the five managers we think are poised to make a difference at AFCON 2024. Leave a comment if you agree or have an alternative suggestion. And don’t forget to [choose BetKing today](https://m.betking.com/account/registration) for more AFCON 2023 updates, team news, free expert betting tips on all types of bets and super odds boosts, all for your ultimate betting pleasure.