With club football on hold, the 2015 AFCON qualifiers return
this week with some cracking encounters in store. The qualifiers for next
year’s showpiece draws near a critical period that will decide the fate of
several teams. While some of Africa’s elite fight for top spot in their
respective groups, others will be desperate to qualify no matter how they do it,
but beware of the ticket spoilers who play for pride. There’s money to be made
and I’ve got a good feeling about this.
Group A
Group B
Malawi 15/10 draw 21/10 Mali 7/4
Both Malawi and Mali will be looking to bounce back after
disappointing defeats last time out and fight for the second spot in Group B
with leaders Algeria far and away the best team. Malawi are coming off a 3-0 loss
away to Algeria while Mali were overpowered 3-2 at home to Ethiopia. Mali have
won two matches with two draws and are three points ahead of their opponents
who have won just once while suffering three defeats. Mali beat Malawi 2-0 in their opening match of the group and are tipped
to come away with three valuable points.
Algeria 2/9 draw 43/10 Ethiopia 11/1
Group B leaders Algeria will be hoping to register a second
win against Ethiopia and secure their spot in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
when the sides clash on Saturday. Africa’s standout team in the 2014 World Cup
have continued to impress by being head and shoulders above the rest in their
group, winning all four matches. Despite an impressive 3-2 away win over Mali,
Ethiopia have struggled, losing their first three matches. The Walias are in
desperate need of a win to keep their chances of qualification alive but they
may be fighting a losing battle against The Desert Foxes. Algeria are a banker bet for me.
Group C
Lesotho 28/10 draw 21/10 Burkina Faso
1/1
Burkina Faso travel to Setsoto Stadium to take on strugglers
Lesotho on Saturday hoping to strengthen their position in Group C. Burkina
Faso have won two matches and have only dropped points against group leaders
Gabon – losing 2-0 and drawing 1-1 – in four matches played. Lesotho have been
below par and are yet to register a win with two draws and two losses and are
fourth in the group with just two points. Burkina
Faso are tipped to oust their opponents at 1/1.
Angola 17/20 draw 9/4 Gabon 32/10
High-flying Gabon will be looking to strengthen their hold
on the Group C leadership when they take on Angola. Angola recorded their first
win in the group against Lesotho, courtesy of a 4-0 thrashing and desperately
need a victory to keep their hopes of qualification alive. It won’t come easy
as they come up against a Gabon side growing in confidence. Gabon are unbeaten
in their opening four matches, with two wins and two draws and are four points
ahead of their opponents. The match
could prove to be a tight affair and Gabon are tipped to win or draw on the
double chance market at 15/20.
Group D
Sierra Leone 12/1 draw 6/1 Ivory
Coast 1/6
Ivory Coast will be expected to get back to winning ways
when they take on a struggling Sierra Leone side on Friday night. Ivory Coast’s
hopes of qualification hang in the balance as The Elephants suffered a shock
4-3 loss at home to DR Congo. The Ivorian’s are yet to find their rhythm in the
competition and will be pleased to come up against the group’s ‘whipping boys’.
Sierra Leone have been dreadful, losing three matches and drawing just once and
should struggle to match their headstrong opponents. Ivory Coast have a
plethora of weapons in their attack with the likes of Yaya Toure, Wilfred Bony
and Gervinho leading a lethal team that is superior to Sierra Leone in all
departments. Take Ivory Coast to win and
add it to your multiples.
Cameroon 6/10 draw 27/10 DR Congo 9/2
Group D leaders Cameroon host DR Congo on Saturday looking
to secure their spot in the 2015 AFCON. Cameroon have been outstanding winning
three matches with one draw coming away to Sierra Leone, scoring eight goals
while conceding just one. DR Congo have been inconsistent with two wins and two
losses and are currently on six points, tied with Ivory Coast. With Ivory Coast
expected to beat Sierra Leone, DR Congo know that they have to go all out for
the win but that could prove to be too difficult as Cameroon are tough to beat
at home. I’m expecting a tight affair
with Cameroon to edge it at 6/10.
Group E
Uganda 19/10 draw 2/1 Ghana 29/20
The Black Stars will travel to face Uganda eyeing a win to
secure their qualification ticket. Uganda have won just one of their four
victories, losing two and drawing once while Ghana are unbeaten with two wins
and two draws. Uganda have a defensive minded approach and should have enough
to deal with Ghana’s understrength attack due to injuries to the influential
pair of Asamoah Gyan and Kwadwo Asamoah. However,
The Cranes do lack firepower upfront having scored just three times but should hold
Ghana to a commendable draw.
Togo 17/20 draw 9/4 Guinea 32/10
Togo will look to avenge their 2-1 defeat at Guinea when the
teams reconvene in Lome on Saturday afternoon. Togo have struggled for
consistency having won two matches while suffering two defeats and are just two
points ahead of their opponents. Guinea’s only victory in the group was against
Togo and they did well to hold Ghana to a 1-1 draw at home. However, they have struggled on the road
and Togo are tipped to capitalize on home advantage.
Group F
Mozambique 14/10 draw 21/10 Zambia
19/10
Zambia travel to Maputo to take on Mozambique on Saturday in
a highly competitive fixture as both sides battle for second spot with Cape
Verde far ahead in first position. Zambia have recorded just one victory with
two draws and one defeat in their four games played and Mozambique lie three
points behind them having played a game less, with two draws and one defeat. These sides cancelled each other out in the
opening match and the draw looks the likely result.
Cape Verde 5/10 draw 29/10 Niger
54/10
It’s top versus bottom as Group F leaders Cape Verde host
Niger on Saturday seeking a win to secure qualification for the 2015 AFCON.
Cape Verde have been outstanding, winning all three of their matches, scoring
six goals while conceding just two. Niger are yet to register a win with two
losses and two draws and have scored just two goals while conceding seven. Cape
Verde beat Niger 3-1 away from home early September and should win quite
comfortably at home. Cape Verde are a
banker bet.
Group G
Botswana 38/10 draw 24/10 Tunisia
15/20
Group G leaders Tunisia travel to Gaborone on Friday to take
on a shambolic Botswana side who will be playing for nothing more than pride as
they have no chance of qualifying for AFCON 2015. The Zebras have lost all four
of their matches, scoring just once while conceding eight goals, showing their
defensive frailties. Tunisia have been outstanding, winning three matches,
including a 2-1 win over Botswana in Monastir and held Senegal to a hard-fought
0-0 draw away. Botswana are struggling to score goals and are conceding goals too
cheaply and I expect a clinical Tunisia attack to take full advantage of that. Back the away win at 15/20.
Egypt 5/4 draw 2/1 Senegal 22/10
African giants Egypt and Senegal lock horns in Cairo on Saturday
in another cracking AFCON qualifier. Both sides will battle it out for second
place with Tunisia destined to top group G and there is every chance we will
see an entertaining encounter. The hosts have been inconsistent winning two
matches and drawing two, while The Lions of Teranga have lost once, winning
twice and drawing one. Senegal won the reverse fixture 2-0 at home but could
struggle to repeat that feat as Egypt are a strong team when playing at home.
The Pharaohs have attacking firepower at their disposal with the likes of
Chelsea’s Mohamed Salah leading their line and have also called up their
domestic league’s top scorer Arafa El-Sayed who has already scored nine goals,
including two hat-tricks, and will add ferocity to The Pharaohs attack. Egypt are tipped to make home advantage
count at 5/4.
Written By Chadley Nagel
Chad’s Picks
Mali WIN 7/4
Algeria WIN 2/9
Burkina Faso WIN 1/1
Gabon WIN/DRAW 15/20
Ivory Coast WIN 1/6
Cameroon WIN 6/10
Uganda DRAW 2/1
Togo WIN 17/20
Mozambique DRAW 21/10
Cape Verde WIN 5/10
Tunisia WIN 15/20
Egypt WIN 5/4