Be interesting to hear anyones thoughts but im thinking of going with Senegal who's price of 5.1 seems a bit too big imo.
Egypt looked very very average to me in their last game where they won 4-1. Were lacking all the composure and defensive strengths i had seen from them in their previous games.
Senegal have still to move out of first gear in this tournament and seem to be playing within themselves so far. You can't doubt the talent they have in their side, they just seem to play whenever it suits them and ido feel they have a big performance in them.
They might not win in 90 minutes but i think the X2 is certainly worth a shout.
Nigeria v Ivory Coast (Tues)
Nigeria will be missing defensive midfielder Yusuf Ayila for the game as he is unable to recover from a knee injury.
But captain Jay-Jay Okocha is expected to play in his first game of the tournament, after overcoming his thigh injury.
Defender Chidi Odiah and Kanu Nwankwo are also fighting to get fit, as they cope with thigh and knee problems. But Odiah is in with a fighting chance of playing after training with the team on Monday.
Ivorian striker Aruna Dindane, who briefly left the team as a result of a personal tragedy, sustained an injury that has put him out of the competition.
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Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen:
"We want to compensate for missing out on the World Cup and also for not winning the Nations Cup for a long time. The players are ready and the pressure will not get to them."
Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama:
"We're expecting something a bit tougher, because it's an all West African affair. Nobody wants to lose.
Nigeria defender Joseph Yobo:
"It's a must-win game, like it was against Tunisia. We can¿t really think about having beaten them the last time the two countries met in the semi-final of the 1994 Nations Cup.
"Saturday's quarter-final took a lot out of us because we didn't expect it to go to extra time and then to penalties. Fortunately it was the same for the Ivorians, so if we're tired they'll be tired as well."
Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure:
"It's going to be a very hard game. But now we are in the semi-finals, anything can happen."
Ivory Coast coach Henri Michel:
"It's going to be a very hard game but we will be on equal footing with Nigeria because both of us played extra time [in the quarter-finals]."
Quote:
Egypt v Senegal (Tues)
Egypt are hoping that forward Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam will be fit, as he has been struggling to recover from a groin strain.
Senegal's El Hadji Diouf and defender Ferdinand Coly are struggling to be ready for the semi-final game.
Diouf has a groin strain, while Coly, the captain of the team, has a thigh complaint.
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Senegal coach Abdoulaye Sarr:
"We fear nobody. We have no pressure on us. We are going to have to be mentally very strong for 90 minutes and perhaps longer. Bu we are old hands at high-level competitions and my boys are ready for anything.
Senegal captain Ferdinand Coly:
"At the beginning (of the tournament), Senegal didn't play well. But now we'll see the real Senegal team. It's not easy to play against Egypt here but if we play as well as we did against Guinea, we can beat them."
With no world cup to go to I think they will be all out
to win this tournament, and overall I think they have
better players and are a better team than the Ivory Coast.
been busy today, didn't remember about these games.
I think Ivory Coast look a decent bet, with X2 as a guarantee cover. Drogba will cause lots of problems at the back, and even though they don't exaxctly 'dominate' teams they are very consistent overall. Physically a bigger lot than Nigeria and their aerial advantage should count here.
Nigeria are technically the better side, but thatis often the first attribute to go when it gets to the more demanding phases of a tiring competition.
wtf, Niger played like shit......... Boring game with no purpose or urgency on Nigeria's part although they have more possession. Totally schoolboy stuff with 4 or 5 players going for the ball at the same time. Scrappy, slow and no motivation at all.
Sorry to hear that Doggie. I never caught it. My bank manager is a shite and gives me the privileges a 12yr old would get. I have to put money into a ladbrokes account as i can do that in the shop. Just a shame i dont go out the house unless i have to be somewhere.
this african nations has just past me by truth be told. if i was to stay with my girl the world cup will to. Its for the best all round
Did anybody watch Egypt vs Senegal ? If I was national Manager of Egypt, Mido would not play for Egypt - ever. What a prick... :booty
My money was on Egypt, but Senegal had clear penalty few minutes before the end... that is home advantage as I see it .
African Nations Semi's: 7th Feb
.GIF "Thumb(1)")
egypt,i trust you
