Nigeria tipped for Africa Cup of Nations glory with Mali as surprise contenders

Nigeria have the potential to go all the way in this year's AFCON and lift their first trophy since 2013, according to experienced African football expert Johnathan McKinstry

The Super Eagles have made a flying start to the competition and soared into the knockout stages having won all three of their group games.

Having defeated Egypt in the opening matchday, Nigeria went on to beat Sudan and Guinea-Bissau by two-goal margins to set up a Round of 16 clash against Tunisia - who lost two of their opening group games.

With a star-studded squad including Premier League talents Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and national team captain William Troost-Ekong, they are now one of the tournament favourites.

McKinstry has extensive experience of in African football having had management stints at the helm of Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Uganda - with whom he won the CECAFA Challenge Cup in 2019.

"Nigeria have the second youngest team in the tournament and have started so strongly," McKinstry told Mirror Football.

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"Traditionally, the teams who start tournaments very well do not go on to lift the trophy - they can burn themselves out by the time they get into the knockouts.

"Tournament winners tend to be slow starters, but Nigeria certainly have the potential to keep their momentum going.

"Their coach Augustine Eguavoen is only in place on an interim basis but they have a deal in place with Jose Peseiro to take over after the tournament, so it would be quite a story if Eguavoen won it for his nation!"

Northern Irishman McKinstry believes Mali are outsiders to win their first ever AFCON - the Eagles lost their only ever final appearance to Congo in 1972 although they have reached the semi-finals on four occasions since 2002.

Another youthful squad whose ranks include Southampton forward Moussa Djenepo, Brighton 's Yves Bissouma and reported Manchester United transfer target Amadou Haidara could be a side to keep an eye on.

McKinstry added: "Mali are a fantastically talented young team who won their group and right from the outset, they have been my dark horses for the tournament.

"I'm also really interested to see how Malawi can perform in the knockouts as they really stood out in the group stages."

It has been a tournament of upsets so far with holding champions Algeria and big hitters Ghana both succumbing to surprise group stage eliminations.

The flip side of that has been debutants Comoros qualifying for the knockouts along with other outsiders such as Malawi, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia and the Cape Verde Islands.

"Big teams tend to grow into the tournament a little bit slower," added the 36-year-old Northern Irishman.

"Some of the smaller nations have been able to prepare for longer as they have had their group together for a few weeks.

"But some of the bigger hitters in the tournament whose players are in Europe's top leagues only are released from their club sides in the days leading up to their first game.

"That means they have less continuity when the tournament starts and it takes them a few games to find their stride."

McKinstry has put these surprise results down to an upturn in infrastructure and facilities across the continent, which has led to better coaching, but believes there is still a long way to go.

"There needs to be more African investment not only in players but in coaches," added McKinstry, who was appointed as Sierra Leone boss in 2013, when he was aged just 27.

"In Africa there was a lack of accessibility for coaches; they did not have the opportunity, like I did, to do my coaching licenses at a young age.

"Learning to coach is like learning to teach, so if they do not have access to the resources then there is a limit into what they can do.

"This is not specifically an African problem as it exists in many parts of the world, but as soon as there is more equality in opportunities than the standards will improve."

"This AFCON is about stories and smaller nations stepping up on the big stage.

"Nations like The Gambia, Comoros and Malawi all performing at a major tournament shows you what is possible when you get the structure right."

The Round of 16 of the AFCON gets underway on Sunday with the final set to be staged on 6 February.