AFCON 2019: Uganda coach tips Nigeria, Senegal & Morocco as favourites

The Super Eagles of Nigeria, Teranga Lions of Senegal and the Atlas Lions of Morocco have all been tipped as favorites to emerge winners of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations set for June in Egypt.

Making the prediction is Uganda national team coach Sebastien Desabre who is plotting how his team will navigate through the group stages of the tournament after being grouped with hosts Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe in Group A of the 2019 AFCON.

Speaking with ESPN about the leading AFCON contenders, Desabre said; “Senegal, Nigeria and Morocco are really the favourites, but Egypt are, too, because they’re hosting the tournament.

“These four teams should go far.

Read also: Nigeria’s U-20 team intensifies training for World Cup, set to invite more foreign based pros

“We’re in Egypt’s group, and they’re a team we know well. Personally, I know them very well as I worked in Egypt (five months with club side Ismaily SC), and we’ve played against them several times.

“When we play against Egypt, the boys know that it’s possible (to get a result).”

Desabre said his team will try and get a result against hosts Egypt whom they played against in the groups stages of the 2017 AFCON and also met home and away during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

“(We’ve) beaten them in World Cup qualification (a 1-0 victory in Kampala in August 2017), at the last AFCON they only scored in the 89th minute.

“It’s very difficult, and they’re favourites, but it’s not too bad to play against them either.

“Egypt are strong individually, and maybe as a group they’re a little less strong than in previous years, but they’ll be pushed by their supporters.

“We know, at home, how important it is to have fans behind you.”

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