Hosts Ivory Coast, who have previously won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1992 and 2015, are considered the team to beat in the upcoming 2024 tournament, according to Algeria’s AFCON-winning coach Djamel Belmadi. The tournament will take place from January 13 to February 11, and Belmadi believes the Ivory Coast team has the potential to win the tournament for a third time. Although host nations have historically struggled to win on home soil, with only 11 out of 33 previous AFCONs won by the home side, Belmadi is confident in the Ivorian Elephants’ abilities. Belmadi also dismissed the notion that Algeria, the defending champions, are strong contenders, stating that they are not among the favorites. Despite their past success, Algeria was eliminated in the first round in the previous tournament as defending champions. The tournament will feature 24 teams, and AFP Sport covers the opinions of 10 of the coaches who are vying for glory in the tournament. The final of the tournament will be held in Abidjan on February 11. Belmadi acknowledges that there are dangerous opponents in the competition, such as Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria. Egypt, in particular, has a strong desire for victory after two final losses in the past seven years. Belmadi emphasizes that each match is important and must be treated like a final.