20-23rd Jan: African Cup Of Nations - 1st Group Games

[kompressaur]

20 January 2008
17:00 Ghana (1.57) Draw (3.8) Guinea (7.5)

21 January 2008
15:00 Namibia (9) Draw (4) Morocco (1.5)
17:00 Ivory Coast (2.38) Draw (3.2) Nigeria (3.1)
19:30 Benin (5.5) Draw (3.5) Mali (1.7)

22 January 2008
17:00 Cameroon (2.2) Draw (3.25) Egypt (3.4)
19:30 Sudan (3.75) Draw (3.2) Zambia (2.1)

23 January 2008
17:00 Tunisia (3) Draw (3.2) Senegal (2.5)
19:30 South Africa (2.3) Draw (3.25) Angola (3.2)

[kompressaur]

I dunno how you want to play this Napoleon/Others but this is just a suggestion. I noticed the stuck thread seems to be more to do with winners and group winners etc. I won't be offended if you delete this and set your own format. good luck btw.

oh and dont forget the African Cup Prediction League. I'l go email a couple of bookies and see if i can get some sponsorship

[Napoleon Solo]

This seems fine Komp, going to edit the title slightly though!


Ghana v Guinea

The pricing for this first match is just ridiculous imo! Yes, Ghana are hosts but Guinea are no mugs, as they've shown in qualifying and in the previous two tournaments and odds on them of 7.25 () are just far too big!

Guinea are strong at the back, as demonstrated in qualifying, and have some brilliant attacking ability with Ismael Bangoura and Pascal Feindouno regularly chipping in with their fair share of goals. They're definitely not 25/4 shots!

Similarly, Ghana aren't any sort of value at 1.40/1.50 so laying them around those odds may be worth while!

I've also taken a bet on Guinea (+1) on the Asian Handicap at Pinnacle.

Ghana v Guinea @ 7.25 - 1 point (Centrebet)
Ghana v Guinea AH(+1) @ 2.02 - 3 points Pinnacle

[kompressaur]

Cool Nap. Oh and a nice wee preview there for me too. Lurvely. Just to mention folks that we've got £100 there from Bet365 for the African Nations Prediction League. It's free to enter so get clicking the link in my sig and good luck.

BET365 1st Game Odds

Jan 20 17:00 Ghana v Guinea Live In-Play. 1.40 3.80 7.50
Jan 21 15:00 Namibia v Morocco 10.00 4.20 1.33
Jan 21 17:00 Nigeria v Ivory Coast 3.10 3.10 2.20
Jan 21 19:30 Mali v Benin 1.70 3.25 5.00
Jan 22 17:00 Egypt v Cameroon 3.20 3.10 2.20
Jan 22 19:30 Sudan v Zambia 3.75 3.20 1.95
Jan 23 17:00 Tunisia v Senegal 2.87 3.00 2.40
Jan 23 19:30 South Africa v Angola 2.30 3.10 3.00
Bet365

Cick HERE to join the Bet365 African Nations Prediction league with £100 in free bets as prizes. All welcome and it's free.

[kompressaur]

has everyone gave up already?

[kompressaur]

Morocco should coast past outsiders
by Ian Wilkerson
.
NAMIBIA are the 37th-ranked team in Africa and, while hardly anyone expected them to qualify from a group that included Libya and DR Congo, it is difficult to see them doing anything but enjoying the ride to Ghana.

Dutchman Arie Schans has taken the reins followingthe resignation of Ben Bamfuchile – who died shortly afterwards – but they face a really tough task against Morocco, who will have an eye on capturing the title.

Under Henri Michel, the man who guided the country to the 1998 World Cup and Ivory Coast to the semi-finals two years ago, they have a solid defence and, in Bordaeux's Marovane Chamakh, one of the nation's highest-rated strikers.

They have already beaten today's opponents 2-0 in a friendly in October and have posted some impressive resultsin recent months, posting a 3-0 victory over highly-fancied Senegal and a 2-2 draw in France.

Morocco, who include Southampton's Youssef Safri and Porto's impressive midfielder Tarik Sektioui in their squad, conceded just one goal in their four qualifying matches.

And it is difficult to see the Namibians – who are 200-1 for overall glory – troubling their defence in Accra.

Recommendation
Morocco to win to nil, 2pts 10-11

Mali under pressure to perform
by Michael Brear

IT'S hard not to feel a little sorry for Benin.

Not only were their brave African Nations Cup qualification efforts unjustly rewarded with a place in the difficult Group B, but their attempts to recruit players of a Beninese heritage by advertising in the French press and on their website fell – a few opportunistic hopefuls apart – largely on deaf ears as well.

In all, it has been a difficult time since they secured their place alongside the African elite.

The 250-1 tournament outsiders are the least deadly side in a lethal group which puts them and tonight's opponents Mali alongside Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

And the Squirrels will be hoping they don't get well and truly trampled by Africa's bigger beasts – the Eagles, the Super Eagles and the Elephants – in the stampede for places in the knockout stages.

Accrington Stanley midfielder Romuald Boco, without whom his side shipped eight goals against Peterborough last week, forms part of a side many will expect Fredi Kanoute to feast upon in tonight's clash inSekondi. But the level of expectation their more seasoned opponents have to deal with could just help the underdogs.

Due to the difficulty of this group, there's plenty of pressure on Mali to beat Benin to stay on course for the knockout phases, something they failed to do on the two occasions these teams met in the qualifiers – both games ended in draws.

Mali's midfield comprises Seville's Seydou Keita, Real Madrid's Mahamadou Diarra and the out-of-form Momo Sissoko.

With the Liverpool midfielder up for sale, Rafa Benitez will no doubt be hoping the youngster sticks to chasing down and mithering the opposition and doesn't have to pass the ball more than 15 yards enough to put off any potential suitors.

Keita and Diarra offer a slightly more creative edge, but the emphasis of the Eagles is on power rather than guile - their set-up seems to favour stifling the best sides rather than breaking down the worst – and they could find the Squirrels a tough nut to crack yet again.

Recommendation
Draw, 1pt 5-2

Clash of the giants should live up to all expectations
by Dan Childs

THE African Nations Cup got under way with an exciting 2-1 victory for hosts Ghana over Guinea, but the tournament could really catch fire when big-hitters Nigeria and Ivory Coast go head-to-head in Sekondi today.

Both sides are in the top four in the betting, but with Mali also posing a
threat in Group B, they will be keen to open up with a win.

Nigeria coach Berti Vogts did not cover himself in glory during his spell in charge of Scotland.

But his failure there has not stopped him from landing one of the plum jobs in international football.

Vogts suffered from a dearth of attacking options when he led the Scots but he will have no excuses if Nigeria fail to find the net regularly. Vogts' squad includes Everton striker Yakubu, wily Portsmouth campaigner Kanu and pacy forwards John Utaka and Obafemi Martins.

However, while Vogts has an embarrassment of riches up front, he is not as well stocked in other departments.

There is an emphasis on Chelsea's John Obi Mikel to win the midfield scrap and Everton's Joseph Yobo will have to take responsibility at the back.

Yobo is used to coming up against some of the world's best strikers in the Premier League but there he is aided by an able partner, Joleon Lescott, and a hard-working midfield.

A lot will depend on how Yobo's likely defensive partner – Danny Shittu – handles the occasion. Shittu has been one of the shining lights for Watford and has netted six goals in his last eight appearances. However, playing in the Championship will not have prepared him for the ordeal of facing Ivory Coast's awesome forward line.

The striking options available to Elephants coach Gerard Gili are truly mind-boggling.

Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou will be battling it out with Lyon's Abdelkader Keita, Seville's Arouna Kone and Werder Bremen's Boubacar Sanogo for forward places.

But the strength of the Ivory Coast squad is not just confined to the final third.

Holding midfielder Yaya Toure has been a regular starter for Barcelona and he will be well supported by Didier Zokora, who tend to play better for his country than he does for Tottenham.

And a strong back-line features Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure and Stuttgart left-back Arthur Boka.

Toure'steam may struggle to keep a clean sheet against a strong Nigerian attack but they should provide enough of a platform for their more creative players to prosper.

Recommendations
Ivory Coast, 1pt 11-8
Over 2.5 goals, 1pt 13-10

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[Ceirtlis]

I would be inclined to go for an under 2.5 in the match today between Morocco and Namibia. The game is being played earlier in the day which will prob mean it will be warmer and the grass on the pitch is very long as was seen last night(the game was at the same stadium). Dont know what the odds are though because im blocked from betting websites at work.
Does anyone know where there is highlights available for the days games online. I dont have bbc i in the house and anyways the women in the house will probably want to watch eastenders or some other balls when the games are on.

[JoseRules]

Morocco absolutley destroyed Namibia (I backed HT/FT and the -1.5 which started me off well!). So i followed that up with a tenner on Ivory Coast (straight win), which was great as Kalou scored a class goal. Drogba didn't really get in the game at all. Maybe he needs a couple of games under his belt. I don't think they really deserved the win, but the money is in the bank anyway!
So i'm going for the full house now with Mali Ht/FT as well, and a small Liverpool win too. This could be a great day!
Anyone got any info on Egypt v Cameroon? They have both been good teams in the past but i don't know a lot about current form.
I'm chuffed now i've found out i can watch EVERY SINGLE GAME on BBC, so i need to carry on backing winners! All info gratefully received! (As long as its good.....)

[JoseRules]

I've just noticed that every tip so far above has lost except one point on Ivory Coast. I hope that doesn't mean my tip is gonna lose too!

[Cinny]

Thought Mali were very poor today and Benin could have even grabbed a draw with a few chances towards the end. Also very dissapointed with what little fight and battle there was out of nigeria. Ivory Coast look complete and are very solid at the back, good in the middle and great up front id fancy them to win it, have them at 4/1 in the local and althouh other teams will improve and we've yet to see some i wouldnt be too afraid of Ghana or Nigeria at the minute.

[Napoleon Solo]

Originally Posted by kompressaur

has everyone gave up already?

Not given up, just not had any other bets yet. Taking more of a watching front, trying to gauge how each team is set-up and how strong they are. I'll have a bet if I think it's right!

[kompressaur]

soz Nap i was just pushing for thoughts. I havent caught any of this but im for a bet today no matter whats going on as i want to shout on someone live on the telly. ooo 2 games.
17:00 Cameroon (11/10) Draw (23/10) Egypt (3)
19:30 Sudan (57/17) Draw (5/2) Zambia (1)

Money for Cameroon all round. I might go grab some of that. Money for Zambia too. Still Evens money. Im for a double. Anyone advise me against this?

Quick note from the sponsors of our prediction league Bet365. They go 21/20 and 10/11. Sounds ok to me.

[kompressaur]

Tightly-matched rivals are unlikely to serve up action
by Mark Langdon
.
THERE tend to be few goals when Cameroon and Egypt meet each other and that could once again be the outcome when the sides clash in Kumasi today.

The bookmakers are trying to duck under 2.5 goals by offering no better than 8-13, but even at that price it looks the best available punt.

Six of their previous eight meetings have featured two goals or fewer (three of those ended 0-0) and both teams will be looking to make solid starts to their Group C campaigns.

Cameroon were never extended in reaching Ghana as they easily came out on top of a group which also contained Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda and Liberia.

The Indomitable Lions will face a tougher assignment today and you have to question whether they have had the right preparation after playing just two friendly matches in 2007.

Coach Otto Pfister will be relying on Samuel Eto'o to light up the Cameroon side and the German yesterday called him the best striker in the world.

Maybe he was when he took the African Nations Golden Boot in 2006, yet he has suffered two serious injuries and the Barcelona hitman is an easier prospect for opposing defenders these days.

Egypt's main attacking threat won't be on the pitch with Mido injured, while inspirational midfielder and skipper Ahmed Hassan is suspended.

Pharaohs coach Hassan Shehata did not even attempt to play down the importance of the ban.

“Hassan is irreplaceable, He is our captain, we are going to miss him in our opening game.”

Egypt don't travel particularly well, scoring just once in three qualifying away games at minnows Botswana, Burundi and Mauritania.

However, what Egypt lack going forward they make up for with their defensive organisation, which was a key part of their success in winning the last African Nations Cup in 2006.

Egypt drew 3-3 with Angola last time out, but that result was a freak rather than the norm. A better indication of their gameplan came in recent friendlies with Mali (1-0 victory) and a 0-0 draw with Ivory Coast.
GoalkeeperEssam Al Hadari one of the best in the competition.

Recommendation
Under 2.5 goals, 2pts 8-13



Kalaba can get the party started for Zambia
by Mark Langdon
.
IT is always handy to get a look at the minnows before having a bet on their matches at a major tournament and it is difficult to have a strong opinion when Zambia and Sudan do battle in Kumasi this evening.

Zambia have been quite well backed for their Group C opener, but at 11-10 they are not worth lumping on given their serious injury and suspension problems for tonight.

The Copper Bullets are missing their best player Chris Katongo, who is banned after picking up too many yellow cards in qualification. The Brondby hitman, who captains his country, notched a hat-trick against South Africa and is a real hero in his homeland.

Key trio Collins Mbesuma, Moses Sichone and Andrew Sinkala are out through injury so Patrick Phiri's team are in search of a new leader.

Rainford Kalaba may just be that star and the man who dreams of playing for Arsenal smashed 23 goals for domestic champions Zesco United. He could be a decent price at 16-1 to score first.

Zambia's preparation has not been perfect – their kit arrived only yesterday – but it is hard to see how Sudan can take advantage of the problems.

The Nile Crocodiles lost 6-0 to Guinea last time out.

Recommendation
R Kalaba to score first, 0.5pt each-way 16-1

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[kompressaur]

Maybe i wont jump on the double then

[Martens]

sudan not to lose the game, thanks to eurosport,we all can see how poor the african soccer is....boring and nothing else,yesterday two of the favourites ivory coast and nigeria what they showed ? nothing, a boring game, i think african are moving backwards , they were better 5-10 years ago