World Cup 2010 African zone Qualifiers 6-7/06/2009

[kponkpa]

My fellow forumers i present my thougths on this weekends games in the African zone

GROUP 1

Gabon v Togo
These two teams surprised all when they won their respective encounters in the first matches. Gabon beat Morocco away in Rabat by 2-1 and Togo beat Cameroun in their adopted grounds in Accra, Ghana where i reside by 1-0. It could have been 2-0 had Adebayor converted the late penalty. These two side meet this weekend and its going to be a tough match. I have seen these two sides and its difficult to pick a winner but i am leaning towards a Gabon win as they are a very solid home team.

PICK: Gabon home win 3/10

Cameroun v Morocco
The highly fancied Camerounians and Moroccans both lost their first group games and the Moroccan travel to the dreaded Yaounde stadium to face the Indomitable Lions. Cameroun have lost their coach Otto Phister who resigned from his post last week but as far as i am concerned its a blessing in disguise as i wasnt impressed with his tactics anyway. Cameroun have made it clear they will do all it takes to qualify for the upcoming world cup as they missed the last edition and i cant see anything than a home win. The likes of recent Champions league winner Samuel Eto'o will be ready to devour their Moroccan counterparts

PICK: Cameroun home win 6/10


GROUP 2

Tunisia v Mozambique
The Tunisians are showing their class and won their first group game by 2-1 away in Nairobi and play Mozambique who drew at home with Nigeria. The class difference between the two teams is wide and there shouldnt be any result than a home win and Tunisia will also cover the handicap.

PICK 1: Tunisia home win 8/10
PICK 2: Tunisia -1 5/10

Nigeria v Kenya
Nigeria are also desperate to make the world cup as they missed the last edition and their fans were angry when they drew away to minnows Mozambique in the first group game. Since then there has been increased pressure on coach Amadou. Kenya lost their first game at home to Tunisia and they are not a good away team. This game comes too early for them as they face an African giant who are very hungry fro a win. I see nothing than a demolition exercise in Nigeria this weekend. Home win and the handicap will be covered. I will also try handicap-2 if i find one as i expect at least a 3-0 thrashing of Kenya.

PICK 1: Nigeria home win 9/10
PICK 2: Nigeria -1 6/10 and Nigeria -2 if available 4/10

GROUP 3
Zambia v Rwanda
Coach Hevre Renard of Zambia has been a working mircles with the Zambian team and he has built a solid outfit. They travelled and drew with African Champions Egypt 1-1 in Cairo in the first leg. Rwanda also drew at home to Algeria and i dont think they are capable of getting a point in Lusaka

PICK 1: Zambia home win 5/10


Algeria v Egypt
A clash between two North African sides and all results capable. A BIG NO BET for me

GROUP 4
Benin v Sudan
My nap for this weekend. Though Benin lost to my country Ghana by 0-1, they are a very decent side with very good players and i will bet on them to beat Sudan at home.

PICK 1: Benin home win

Mali v Ghana
I will stay away from this game because of my personal interest. Mali have very seasoned players and are very capable in beating Ghana. I am really not impressed with the mentality of my national team as most of our key players are not treating our qualifiers with the needed attention it deserves. Sulley Muntari i learnt wouldnt be available for this clash giving reasons that he is injured, when we all know he played over the weekend and even scored for Inter. Most of us believe he has chosen that way because of the spat he had with the sports minister over winning bonuses. The government is ready to pay US$10,000 winning bonus whereas Sulley was demanding $15,000 per match. As a developing country faced with many economic issues it is unwise on the part of Sulley to make such demands. I learnt that the England national team has winning bonus of £5000 ( i stand for correction though), if that is true and considering the clout of superstars they have and their wages and them taking this modest sum then Sulley should be content with what he is offered as his focus should rather be dying for the national colours rather than fighting over money. he has enough money and should be content with it. we still have a lot of our countrymen dying in abject poverty and monies spent on these players could also be diverted into offering poratble drinking water, electricity and other social amenities. Sulley should be human enough to think of his fellow Ghanaians and invest into society as others like Stephen Appiah do. Unfortunately for Ghana, inspirational captain Stephen appiah has pulled out citing family reasons, but we all know its false as many believe he is unhappy with sentiments expressed in the media about his clublessness and long inactivity and that he doesnt deserve the call up. Due to these unfortunate comments he has decided to pull out of the game citing family reasons. This to me is a big blow to Ghana because he is such an inspiration and he has proven in other games that though clubless he is key to our success and even plays bettter and his commitment is superior to other so called superstars in our team. His commitment to die to the national cause should rather be of concern to us rather than his clublessness as this is a player who has given soo much to this nation and his sense of nationalism and patriotism is flawless and for him to be treated this way by the media is very unfortunate. Michael Essien though in the team wll be in law courts today contesting his ex girlfriend who has taken him to court demanding some settlements after their breakup. The Government is doing all it can to plead with the courts to postpone the case so that Essien can concentrate on this important national assignment. key players like leading striker Asamoah Gyan of Stade Rennes is injured, Laryea Kingston of Heartof Midlothan is also injured, Derrick Boateng of FC Koln is also injured. All these happenings to me are not god for a team going to play another team with good stars like Kanoute, Sissoko and keita. However, i will advise people not to totally rule out Ghana due to these problems, because they perform well when odds are stuck against them and nobody expects them to perform. Ghana has equally seasoned players capable of stepping up to the mantle and i dont think Sulley Muntari absence will be greatly felt as his role in the team will be taken by the new
sensation in the Italian serie A Kwadjo Asamoah of udinese. Well i will leave those interested in this game to decide based on their instincts. I am staying away from this game, but i will like my country not to loose this game. NO BET

GROUP 5

Malawi v Burkina Faso
Burkina faso were my bet of the round in the last group games and they travel to face Malawi. I expect burkina faso not to loose but i wuldnt be betting on this game.

Guinea v Ivory Coast
Another game which is difficult to call. Ivory Coast has all the stars but football nowadays is not all about stars. It will be nice watching this game so i will stay away from betting this game but if pressed i will go for Ivory Coast not to loose the game.


SUMMARY

NAP: Benin

BANKERS: Nigeria, Tunisia, Cameroun, Zambia

OUTSIDER: Gabon


Wishing everyone a fruitful betting weekend

[HastGill1]

Cheers kponkpa, cracking post..be on some of these I think, did have a look at these games earlier in the week and did fancy Nigeria strongest but the price of around 1.23 is obviously not all that appealing..nigeria ht/ft is 1.57 which is a bit better but I have been stung on that too many times this season so will prob just lump on the win and do some score bets too..

[kponkpa]

Thanks HastGill1, you can lump on Nigeria to win and i will also advise you to lump on the handicap if you get the odds because Nigeria will win by more than 1 goal. A Nigeria, Tunisia double will be my main bet for the weekned as well as the nap choice of Benin. Wishing you all the best of luck this coming weekend.

[HastGill1]

Yeah bet365 price that double up at 1.58 which err..obviously isnt great! But seems a pretty solid bet, looking at the small amount of information I have available, not much handicap options at the min but will be something to look at later in the week I think..

[kompressaur]

6 June 2009
10:00 Algeria (2.75) Draw (3.2) Egypt (2.5) 108%
10:00 Benin (2.1) Draw (3.25) Sudan (3.75) 105%
10:00 Cameroon (1.8) Draw (3.3) Morocco (4.5) 108%
10:00 Gabon (2.5) Draw (3.25) Togo (2.88) 105%
10:00 Guinea (3.6) Draw (3.3) Ivory Coast (2.1) 106%
10:00 Malawi (2.5) Draw (3.25) Burkina Faso (2.63) 109%
10:00 Mali (2.5) Draw (3.25) Ghana (3) 104%
10:00 Nigeria (1.25) Draw (5.5) Kenya (13) 106%
10:00 Tunisia (1.33) Draw (4.5) Mozambique (10) 107%
10:00 Zambia (1.57) Draw (3.65) Rwanda (7.5) 104%

[kompressaur]

Groups and previous rounds and games here
FIFA.com

Benin best priced according to oddschecker at 2.10 with Bet365. I'll have some of that kponkpa as theyre odds on in places. your Banker line is best priced 4.40 at Corals. Good luck kponkpa

[Belkin]

well done kponkpa
i will be with zambia and tunisia on saturday, class difference here and both favorites traditionally powerful at home.
gl

[Petrous]

great work kponkpa - thanks for all informations

[vlo14]

zambia & tunisia for me

[vlo14]

rwanda just saved a penalty,cmon ZAMBIA find the net son

[HastGill1]

Lol, was keeping an eye on it, bet you thought that was never gonna come! 1-0

[css1986]

Zambia

[kponkpa]

Zambia finally won, they were the better team but they messed up so many chances.

FT Zambia 1 Rwanda 0
FT Malawi 0 Burkina Faso 1
FT Gabon 3 Togo 0

Waow... I was expecting Gabon to win but not this thumping of Togo who are a decent side.

[css1986]

1-0 Tunisia 20 mins

[kponkpa]

FT Tunisia 2 Mozambique 0

Handicap covered as well.

Todays matches have been good, lets hope our luck continues tomorrow. See you all later guys.