AFCON Expert Ben Jackson, Discusses the Good, the Bad, the Ugly and Who will Win Afcon 2023 - Exclusive Interview with TribalFootball

Ben Jackson research and documentary of African football has stood out among the works of other scholars and Journalists in this genre of international football research and history. He is the author of "The Africa Cup of Nations: The History of an Underappreciated Tournament", Jackson tells Tribalfootball.com when hooked up for a lengthy interview about a tournament never short of controversy.

How would you describe or Introduce African Cup of Nation to a global audience?

"This is the signature of African football! It's uniqueness and display of raw talents, strength and tenacity shouldn't be taken away. African football at this stage of it's development, is a blend of raw and tactical approach. A lot of infiltrations from European coaches and now, African descent born and bread in Europe are more willing to play in this tournament for their native land."

"This is the reason you find underdogs challenging, creating lots of upsets and intrigues in this edition of the tournament. Team like Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde, Angola and even Nigeria have most of their players come from Europe."

"Today, Afcon is getting more global attention and this edition of the tournament hosted by Cote d'Ivoire may have surpassed all expectations. Great improvement in local organization, the open broadcast initiative that extended the media reach of the tournament in no little measure.

Is there a lasting impact for nations hosting AFCON?

"I'm not sure. Recent hosts like Egypt and Cameroon are already established nations and then there've been countries like Equatorial Guinea and Gabon who haven't done much from hosting it. I'll be interested to see what sort of impact it has on the Ivory Coast because this tournament has clearly captured the imagination of fans. But they are one of those nations that's always been a footballing nation anyway."

Is there an untapped potential of AFCON in terms of revenue and earnings?

"Definitely. I feel like this tournament should show that if you can make it accessible to other nations to get to the country and go and watch the games it makes the atmosphere entertaining and engrossing to watch."

If you had an unlimited budget, what would you introduce to have AFCON fulfil its potential?

"I'd probably focus mostly on the pitches. Pitches have been the downfall of many an AFCON in the past. Thinking back to 2013 one of the pitches got so bad it completely changed how teams had to play.

"Another thing is investing in African coaching and giving them the ability and the pathway to make it into leading their national teams. We get a lot of the same names going round and round that aren't from Africa. There may be some very good African coaches on the continent that just don't get the chance."

Defending champions, Senegal, and Egypt went out early. What happened?

"The whole of North Africa didn't do well and they haven't done well in sub-Saharan settings very often. Senegal just looked too good in the group stages. Having researched the tournament, I found that there are lots of examples of teams that start really well and then they'll fall at the first hurdle.

"Last time Senegal were terrible in the group stages, but won the tournament. This time the Ivory Coast were terrible in the group yet made the semi-finals. That's just the history of the tournament."

Morocco did so well at the last World Cup but disappointed here. That is not the first time we see an African nation doing well at the World Cup only to fall short at an AFCON. Why do you think that is?

"There is something about the level of competition at AFCON. It just feels like the great kind of leveller of the playing field. You get players from the third division of Spain just going up against a Cote d'Ivoire side with players in Serie A and Ligue 1 and just wipe the floor with them.

"They have this desire and competitiveness of 'we are going to punch you in the mouth because we know we're the underdogs'. That happens a lot at AFCON, it's just really tricky."

We had eight new quarter-finalists compared to just two years ago. Is this a good or bad thing?

"I find the debate really interesting because I've seen some people say it's a bad thing in the sense that the strong African teams aren't actually that strong, which is why they struggle when they go to World Cups.

"But for AFCON I think it's great because it's inspiring generations of players from these countries. Some of these nations will never make a World Cup, but they get to celebrate success at an AFCON. Personally, I think it's great, it just adds to the drama and the storylines which is really, really important."

South African football has struggled since the turn of the century, but they're into the semi-finals. Is that a surprise for you?

"It's part surprise, but also part 'finally'! This nation completely dropped the ball. They have a really strong domestic league and players don't really leave South Africa because financially they get paid very well.

"But going into this tournament I actually felt they were going to do well. There's something in this team. They weren't great against Cape Verde, but Ronwen Williams was just incredible throughout the game. I didn't see them getting to the final, but I had them as a dark horse."

Even for AFCON standards, it's a pretty bold move to sack your coach while the tournament is going on. Can the Ivory Coast actually go and win it now?

"After what they did against Mali, who's going to bet against them? DR Congo will have to take their chances as Mali failed to do. It's a very, very good team, but one way or the other it's going to be dramatic."

What has been your impression of Nigeria?

"They're a really interesting one for me. Before the tournament, I had no confidence in the coach, to be honest. I didn't see him as kind of the coach that would win an AFCON tournament. He's proven me wrong so far.

"Osimhen has been playing really well and he's probably been their best player. But there's just something there, which I can't get my head around. I just feel there's a bad Nigeria game coming."

Who's been the player of the tournament so far?

"I think there's a few. Fofana is one, Ola Aina as well. Chancel Mbembe from DR Congo also deserves a lot of credit. I've been really impressed with his performances at the back for the Congolese. Also, Ronwen Williams who has made some key saves."

Who will win the AFCON 2023?

"I think the Ivory Coast will win it."