Ivorian coach Jean-Louis Gasset said the "Elephants" look to be the 12th host nation to lift the AFCON title.
"We will enjoy the support of the entire Ivory Coast nation, which is an incredible asset to have,” Gasset said.
Host nations have often struggled to turn home advantage into success with only 11 of the previous 33 AFCONs won by the home side.
The hosts are set to clash with Nigeria’s “Super Eagles” on January 18 — a fixture that pundits say will leave fans excited.
Gasset said their West African neighbors possess “a vast array of attacking talent.”
This "is a huge challenge in the first round and really excites us," he added.
Djamel Belmadi, Algeria's coach, who led his team to the 2019 AFCON victory over Egypt, said tournament hosts and two-time champions Ivory Coast are "the team to beat" this year.
Speaking to reporters, Belmadi said the Ivorian Elephants possess a strong squad, brushing aside suggestions that Algeria are also strong challengers.
"We are not among the favorites," he said, "Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia are other strong contenders.”
FILE — Algeria's coach, Djamel Belmadi reacts, on the touchline, during the African Cup of Nations 2022 group E soccer match against Sierra Leone at the Japoma Stadium in Doula, Cameroon, Tuesday Jan. 11, 2022.
Nigerian coach Jose Peseiro expressed respect for Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea, the Super Eagles Group A opponents during the tournament.
"If you want to win the Cup of Nations (AFCON) the first thing to do is accept the group draw. All our opponents are dangerous,” Peseiro said, "I believe we are a stronger team than Guinea-Bissau, but that did not stop them beating us in a qualifier in Nigeria."
Walid Regragui, Morocco’s head coach who led the North African team to its historic FIFA World Cup semi-final in Qatar, applauded African football for “making progress.”
FILE — Morocco's coach Walid Regragui gives a thumbs up during the International friendly soccer match against Peru at the Civitas Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, March 28, 2023.
Regragui said “nations like Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coach Nigeria” are “among the Cup of Nations favorites.”
Egypt has been labeled favorite to win this year's AFCON, having won the historic tournament seven times. The North African nation executed a "three-peat," winning the championship consecutively in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Egypt’s coach says Rui Vitoria said he is conscious of his team’s record.
The two final losses “came in the past seven years so there are millions of Egyptians who want nothing less than outright victory this time. For us, each match is a final,” Vitoria said.
The 2023 edition of AFCON in Ivory Coast will feature 24 African teams competing to be crowned champion.
Nigeria’s Serie A leading goal scorer and the 2023 Confederation for African Football African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah are among the star players taking the field. The tournament will end February 11.
This report was complied by VOA’s Mike Hove with information from Agence France-Presse and the Confederation for African Football.