Here, Vodacom Soccer looks at five potential favourites ahead of the eagerly anticipated tournament.

1. Morocco

Morocco were one of the favourites leading up to the 2023 edition of AFCON only to lose to Bafana Bafana in a last 16 clash.

They had made history by being the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Walid Regragui's side beat Belgium in the group stages and Portugal in the knockout rounds before ultimately losing to France in the semis.

Morocco have since qualified for the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year, and are being touted to ease through Group A that includes the Comoros, Mali and Zambia.

The Atlas Lions' only AFCON win came back in 1976, while they were runners-up to hosts Tunisia in the 2004 edition.

Regragui says the pressure is on his team as the hosts to perform despite having not lost a competitive fixture on home soil since 2009.

"Of course, there is additional pressure, but we're not going to hide from it," Regragui said on Flashscore. "This pressure is not just on me as the coach but also on the players. It's a big responsibility, but it's one we accept with pride.

"There are (Morocco) supporters who have dreamed of this trophy staying in Morocco since 1976.

"The sacred union between the team and the fans will be crucial. This pressure must be positive, and even if it becomes negative, we'll handle it. We are highly motivated and have all the conditions to have a great tournament."

The possible return of captain Achraf Hakimi would, meanwhile, be a massive boost for Morocco. The Paris Saint-Germain was injured by a reckless tackle from Luis Diaz during a UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich in November.

2. Ivory Coast

The Ivory Coast ended a long overdue wait for a third AFCON title when they beat Nigeria 2-1 in 2023 to be crowned champions.

After their "Golden Generation" of stars were unable to claim the continental prize, an impressive group led by Emerse Fae proved their worth to scoop the country's first AFCON since 2015, after their inaugural win in 1992.

The Elephants, who are one of nine African teams to have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, begin their defence against Mozambique on December 24 in Group F, then face five-time champions Cameroon and Gabon.

Fae admits the pressure is on for his team to defend their title but told FIFA: "We're competitors and we set ourselves a series of targets after the AFCON last year: first to reach the 2025 tournament and then to book our ticket to the World Cup. We've achieved them, but our ambitions can't stop there.

"We'll go into the AFCON as holders, which means every team will be desperate to knock us off our perch. We'll have to hand the trophy back at the start and we want to reclaim it by the end.

"We aren't going there for a holiday. Our mindset is to show that Côte d'Ivoire can make history at a global tournament. We're lucky enough to have Morocco's example to follow as they did exceptionally well last time out. What they achieved laid down a marker for Africa, and we've got to take our cue from it and dream big."

The Ivory Coast will have to achieve their aims without the talents of Villarreal forward Nicolas Pepe and Sunderland winger Simon Adingra as Fae made the decision to omit the players from his squad. He did, however, recall Wilfried Zaha after a three-year absence.

3. Egypt

Egypt will be looking to make up for their disappointing showing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations where they lost out to the DR Congo on penalties after their last 16 match ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time.

The seven-time tournament winners were runners-up to Senegal in 2021, having also made it to the final in 2017, although they claimed their last AFCON title back in 2010.

But now under the guidance of Hossam Hassan, who succeeded Rui Vitoria in February 2024 and guided his team to the World Cup, the Pharaohs will be looking to reassert their continental dominance.

Hassan will be looking to the talents of Mohamed Salah, despite his struggles at Liverpool this season, and Manchester City's Omar Marmoush to provide their threat in attack.

They will face off against Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe in Group B.

After qualifying for the World Cup, Hassan said he wants to head to the competition in a "positive way".

He told CAF Online: "We want to show something positive, especially since we are the team with the most Africa Cup of Nations titles.

"We need to appear in a better way at the World Cup. This is my main goal."

4. Nigeria

Nigeria's threat is in their unpredictability, heading into their 21st Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles were runners-up last time around with a narrow 2-1 defeat to hosts Ivory Coast.

They had come into the competition after missing out on qualification to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - for the first time since missing the showpiece for the first time since 2006 - and have now repeated that feat after failing to make it to the 2026 World Cup after a penalty shoot-out play-off final defeat to the DR Congo.

Nigeria had suffered throughout their campaign in the absence of an injured Victor Osimhen, but the Galatasaray forward is expected to lead the line for Eric Chelle's charges in Morocco, supported by CAF African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman, Turkish Super Lig top scorer Paul Onuachu and Sevilla's Chidera Ejuke.

Chelle will be hoping for a strong showing as his team face off in Morocco in Group C against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.

5. South Africa

South Africa are a team reformed under Belgian head coach Hugo Broos and head to the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations as one of the outside favourites.

After controversially missing out on qualification to the 2022 World Cup, Broos' side secured their spot in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year at a canter, ahead of runners-up Nigeria, even after being deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player.

South Africa were unfortunate to lose to Nigeria on penalties in semi-final of the 2023 AFCON and will be determined to go one better this time out.

They take on Angola, fellow favourites Egypt and Zimbabwe in Group B - and ahead of their first game, Broos has made no secret of his determination to guide South Africa to just their second ever AFCON title, after success back in 1996.

He told SABC: "We want to bring back home gold that's for sure, but this is a very tough tournament.

"We saw last time everybody though it should be Morocco or Senegal (that will win the tournament) at the end it was Côte d'Ivoire.

"It was certain moments in the tournament they (Côte d'Ivoire) were out on the tournament then with a little bit of a luck they stayed in.

"And nobody expected South Africa (to reach the semi-finals) and with a little bit of luck in the semi-final we would have played the final.

"So, that means it's very difficult to predict before that tournament (starts) that will it be this or that. But you can be sure we only want one thing that is to bring the cup to South Africa."

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