The stage is set, and West Africa giant Ivory Coast is poised to host the rest of the continent in what will be the 34th edition of the football festival, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The biennial football tournament, which has continued to gain prominence with the passing of time, has grown to be a dream for many and remains highly coveted by others.

Numerous nations, including Morocco, led by Walid Regragui and the defending champion Senegal, are considered strong contenders for the coveted trophy.

However, not everyone subscribes to this commonly held view, and one individual expressing a differing opinion is Jose Peseiro, the coach of Nigeria's national team.

In a recent interview with Egyptian media outlet KORAPLUS, the 63-year-old Portuguese shared his thoughts on who he deems to be his favourite for the competition.

Peseiro on AFCON favourite
The former Venezuela manager, touching on the nation he deems a favourite, opted for the Pharaohs of Egypt.

“There are many strong teams that are candidates to win the AFCON, such as the Egyptian national team, which is the best in the continent of Africa, and I believe that it is a candidate to win the current version of the AFCON.”

While Peseiro's choice might surprise some, it aligns with Egypt's impressive history in the tournament, having won it seven times according to data courtesy of Sportskeeda, making them the most decorated team.

Also, with an attack boasting marquee names, including Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah and Trabzonspor’s David Trezeguet, one could understand Peseiro's point of view.

However, while the Super Eagles coach might have tipped the Egyptians for glory, Rui Vitoria’s men would have to weather through the tricky clashes of Cape Verde, Ghana and Mozambique to ensure their safe qualification from the group stages of the tournament.