Ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, Gambia national team coach Tom Saintfiet has predicted a final match between Nigeria and the hosts, Ivory Coast, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Belgian in an interview with Al-Mehwar channel said he believed that a West African nation would win the 34th edition of the AFCON despite the qualities possessed by the North Africans.
The 2023 AFCON is set to kick off on Saturday with the final holding February 11.
The Super Eagles and the Elephants have both been paired in Group alongside Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.
Both countries will face off at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, commonly known as the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé in one of the most highly anticipated group games.
Should both teams finish in first and second place in Group A, they will avoid facing each other until the last four or third place playoff and Saintfiet during the television programme explained why he picked Nigeria and Ivory Coast ahead of the North African countries.
“The Egyptian national team has a very strong team, and it is a candidate to win the title, just like Algeria, Morocco, and even Tunisia,” he said.
“But I do not think that a team from North Africa will win the title in West Africa because the humidity is high, as is the temperature, and the stadium is different and the conditions are different.
“I believe that a team from West Africa will win this title. I see Senegal as always strong, as well as Mali, which can be a strong team, but my opinion is that the final will be between Ivory Coast and Nigeria.”
He added, “For me, Nigeria is very strong, but Ivory Coast is strong and plays on its home soil, and so does the Malian national team.”
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