Egypt, Senegal favourites to win AFCON - Renard

Herve Renard

Tuesday Feb 05, 2019. 16:00

Two-time Africa Cup of Nations champion Herve Renard has tipped 2019 hosts Egypt and Africa's No.1 ranked team Senegal as the favourites to win this year's showpiece.

Renard, who is currently the head coach of Morocco, has downplayed his chances of winning a third continental crown; having previously guided both Zambia and the Ivory Coast to success.

The Frenchman has moulded the Atlas Lions into one of the strongest teams on the continent, but believes it will be very difficult for his team to upstage the Pharaohs and Teranga Lions.

Seven-time AFCON champions, Egypt, will host the tournament after Cameroon were stripped of their hosting privileges late last year.

"It seems that my realism is not liked by many people," Renard said, as per KingFut.

"We should look back at the history and recall Egypt hosting the tournament in 2006. It is very hard for Egypt not to win the title.

"The Senegalese national team also includes the best individual talents on the continent.

"We also have a very strong team, but Egypt and Senegal will always be the strongest candidates."

Morocco's only success in the tournament came way back in 1976.