2023 African Cup of Nations Qualifying
As the European domestic season comes to an end, attention naturally begins to turn to the next events on the horizon and few tournaments on the global sporting calendar attract as much traction as the African Cup of Nations.
With the tournament proper due to get underway in the Ivory Coast in January 2024, all of the biggest sides on the continent are vying for a place in the tournament, as they look to etch their names into African football history.
Here is a rundown of some of the key games to look out for AFCON qualifying this week:
Sierra Leone vs Nigeria
Match Winner Odds:
Sierra Leone
It has been a tricky qualification campaign for Sierra Leone, who haven’t been able to string the results together in order to challenge the likes of Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau above them in the group, but they will be bang up for this one.
Nigeria
Few would have foreseen Nigeria having to scrap their way out of Group A when the teams were drawn but that is the way it has panned out. They find themselves a point and a place behind Guinea-Bissau heading into this one and they have to win.
Match Best Bet:
The result will be much more important than the performance for Nigeria here.
Under 2.5 goals in the game – 11/20
Result Prediction:
This will be a really tight game, but Nigeria should have too much quality in key areas for this Sierra Leone side.
Nigeria to win the match – 9/20
Score Prediction:
Sierra Leone 0 – 2 Nigeria – 11/2
Madagascar vs Ghana
Match Winner Odds:
Madagascar
Entrenched at the bottom of Group E, with just one point from their 4 games played, Madagascar look to have run their race in AFCON qualifying in 2023 but they will be out to make life as difficult as possible for Ghana here.
Ghana
This game could be a potentially tricky one for Ghana, who have plenty of players at the end of their respective seasons, but they know what is at stake and a win would propel them much closer to AFCON qualification next January.
Match Best Bet:
This should be a very open game, with goals on the cards.
Both teams to score – YES – 19/20
Result Prediction:
Completely writing off Madagascar doesn’t seem overly wise, but Ghana should be able to pick them off at will in the final third.
Ghana to win the match – 13/20
Score Prediction:
Madagascar 1 – 3 Ghana – 11/1
Uganda vs Algeria
Match Winner Odds:
Uganda
Sitting in third place in Group F, Uganda will be eager to keep the pressure up on the likes of Tanzania and Algeria above them and they will see this as a real yard stick as to any hopes of qualifying they may have of reaching AFCON next year.
Algeria
Sitting top of the pile in Group F, Algeria have a 100% record in qualifying so far this term and have been fully dominant against all of their opponents, suggesting that they should have far too much about them for Uganda in this one.
Match Best Bet:
This could be an open game, with goals on the cards.
Over 2.5 goals in the game – 23/20
Result Prediction:
Uganda do carry plenty of attacking threat and may trouble Algeria, but the visitors should have too much about them in this one.
Algeria to win the match – 9/10
Score Prediction:
Uganda 1 – 2 Algeria – 13/2
