Africa Cup of Nations Betting Tips

About Africa Cup of Nations

The African Cup of Nations, also known as the AFCON, is one of the most exciting and unpredictable football events in the world. It offers many unique opportunities for bookmakers and bettors. In this article, we will look at why the AFCON is so attractive for betting and how to make money on it.

From its humble beginnings in 1957, when only three teams participated in the Cup, AFCON has grown into a major sporting event watched by the entire world. The prestigious competition, which has been the first step in the careers of many sports stars, is overseen by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Here are some interesting facts about the Cup:

• Most successful team: Egypt, who have won the championship 7 times.
• Star players who took part in the tournament included Samuel Eto'o, Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez.
• Participating countries: 54 countries from CAF participate in qualifiers to earn a place in the final tournament.
• The first tournament: it featured only 3 teams (Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia). The tournament grew at a record pace, increasing to 8 teams by 1968, then to 16 teams in 1996 and then to 24 teams in 2019.

AFCON milestones:

• 1970: Sudan wins the title for the first time as hosts.
• 1996: South Africa wins in their first appearance since the end of apartheid.
• 2012: Zambia wins exactly 19 years after their team was killed in a plane crash.
• 2017: Cameroon come from behind to beat Egypt in the final.

Tournament structure

1. Qualification phase: The preliminary round for the 2025 Cup took place in March 2024, with 48 teams taking part. The first two rounds of qualifying matches took place in early September 2024.
2. Main stage: 24 teams are divided into six groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group advance, and the four best third-placed teams join them. The main stage of the Cup starts in December 2025.
3. Knockout stages: quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

The competitions are held every two years, usually in odd years, but recently the schedule has changed somewhat: it was moved to the winter months - January and February - from the traditional June-July, which is largely due to the seasonal workload of the players and overlap with other major tournaments.

The appeal of AFCON for bettors and bookmakers

Over the course of its rich history, the African Cup of Nations has undergone significant evolution, gradually turning from a small local tournament into the main competition of African national teams, and then into a real magnet for bookmakers and bettors from all over the world. What is the reason for such popularity of the AFCON?

Diversity of talents

Most players from the leading leagues in the participating European countries represent their home countries in AFCON, resulting in a deep and diverse Cup pool, with established stars and emerging talents meeting on the pitch.

Growing global interest

As African football gradually gains more and more international recognition, the tournament attracts a large audience, not limited to spectators from African countries. Increased interest predictably leads to an increase in bets, creating more favorable odds.

Time of the event

The African Cup of Nations takes place between the European football seasons and fills a gap in the betting calendar, making it an event that is of prime importance to both punters and bookmakers.

In-Play Betting

The fast-paced nature of AFCON games, especially the emotional matches in the later stages of the Cup, lends itself perfectly to in-play betting. This format is becoming increasingly popular, with many additional events opening up for betting in the same match.

A Large Line-up of Events

Beyond the simple win/lose bets, AFCON will offer a variety of other markets, including top scorer, group winners and elimination stage for each team.