Friday’s AFCON action comes from Groups A and B and we take a look at all four games including Angola v Zimbabwe, Egypt v South Africa, Zambia v Comoros and Morocco v Mali
A reminder there are 6 groups, each containing 4 teams. The top 2 in each group will go through to the knockout rounds along with the 4 best third place finishers.
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
Group B Angola 7/10 Draw 5/2 Zimbabwe 9/2
Angola started their campaign against Bafana on Monday, there wasn’t much between the sides in the first half which saw South Africa take a 21st minute lead before Show pulled Angola level on 35 minutes. It was 1-1 at the break but Bafana had the better of the second half and found a winner on 79 minutes.
Zimbabwe were very much the underdogs for their opening game against Egypt on Monday but despite having to defend for long periods they threatened a surprise with Prince Duve giving them a 20th minute lead. Zim held that advantage until the 64th minute when Egypt squared things up, a draw would still have been an excellent result but in injury time Zim conceded again and finished on the losing side, 2-1.
The Verdict
Both sides playing catch up but could still turn things around whilst third place finisher equation is another potential route into the knockout rounds. However any loser here would really be up against it with Egypt and Bafana already having bagged wins. Fredy was the biggest source of creativity for Angola in their game against Bafana and he gets the vote to pop up with a goal of his own.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Fredy at 9/2 with Pokerbet
Group B Egypt 19/20 Draw 22/10 South Africa 7/2
Egypt recovered from gong a goal down in the first half in their opener against Zimbabwe and it was two of their big guns who earned them a 2-1 win. Marmoush brought them level on 64 minutes and Mo Salah found the winner in injury time in a game where Egypt had passed up a number of decent goalscoring opportunities.
Lyle Foster chalked up an assist and the winning goal as Bafana started with a 2-1 win over Angola on Monday. Appollis gave South Africa the lead in the first half but Angola didn’t need long to draw level. The second half saw Bafana have a goal chalked off by VAR and hit the woodwork before Foster curled in what proved to be the winner on 79 minutes with Moremi credited with the assist.
The Verdict
Despite finally getting the better of Zimbabwe Egypt have plenty of scope for improvement whilst I thought Bafana’s second half display against Angola justified the 3 points and any winner here will surely be through to the last 16. Bafana look well organised to me and I give them a shout of sharing the spoils with a draw keeping both sides on course for the Round of 16.
Bet: Match result draw at 22/10 with Sportingbet
Group A Zambia 23/20 Draw 2/1 Comoros 3/1
Patson Daka rescued a point for Zambia in their opening match against Mali on Monday. They fell behind in the 61st minute and looked to be heading for defeat until Daka headed in on 92 minutes and it finished 1-1.
Comoros were involved in the opening match of the tournament against host nation Morocco on Sunday. They were very much the underdogs against the tournament favourites and spent the bulk of the first half defending but with Morocco missing an early penalty they made it to half time all square at 0-0. Morocco took the lead early in the second half and added another on 74 minutes and it finished 2-0 with Comoros threatening to score on two separate occasions but they couldn’t find the net.
The Verdict
Comoros were always going to battle to hold Morocco and this is a much more realistic chance to open their account. However Zambia will be well placed if they can come out on top and it’s very much all to play for.
I wouldn’t like to call it either way but it could be a cagey first half that ends all square.
Bet: Half time result draw at 19/20 with Sportingbet
Group A Morocco 5/10 Draw 29/10 Mali 6/1
Second half goals from Brahim Diaz and substitute Ayoub El Kaabi gave Morocco a 2-0 win over Comoros on Sunday to put the outright favourites on the board. Soufiane Rahimi had missed an early penalty and Morocco had Achraf Hakimi on the bench but still chalked up a record 19th straight win.
Mali started their campaign on Monday against Zambia and after a goalless first half Lassine Sinayoko gave them the lead on 61 minutes. They were on course for victory until injury time when Zambia found an equalizer and Mali had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
The Verdict
I can see Morocco making it 2 wins from 2, Brahim Diaz could well go on to be the star of the tournament and he gets the vote to register another goal.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Brahim Diaz at 26/10 with Pokerbet
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change