Ex-Liverpool Forward El Hadj Diouf Disregards Nigeria, Picks Top Contenders for 2023 AFCON Crown

El Hadj Diouf, the ex-Liverpool marksman, has selected his native Senegal as the team to watch for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in 2023.

Following a historic victory in the 2022 edition where Senegal claimed their first-ever AFCON title by overcoming Egypt in the final held in Yaoundé, Diouf anticipates another strong showing.

With the talents of Ismaïla Sarr from Marseille, Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, and Sadio Mané of Al-Nassr, Diouf believes the Lions of Teranga are the frontrunners for the subsequent AFCON tournament.

In addition to Senegal, the one-time Bolton Wanderers forward identifies Morocco, who reached the World Cup semifinals, and the competition's host nation as the main threats to Senegal's ambitions for the continental crown.

While acknowledging Nigeria's formidable attacking options, such as Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, Diouf did not include the Super Eagles in his list of potential challengers to Senegal's dominance.

The Nigerian team, with three AFCON titles under their belt from 1980, 1994, and 2013, will not be seen as contenders in Diouf's assessment.