Wednesday’s AFCON action comes from Groups E and F and we take a look at all four games including Burkina Faso v Equatorial Guinea, Algeria v Sudan, Ivory Coast v Mozambique and Cameroon v Gabon.
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 E Burkina Faso 15/20 Draw 5/2 Equatorial Guinea 36/10
Burkina Faso qualified having finished as runners up to Senegal in their group with Burundi and Mali some way back. They won 3, drew 1 and lost 2 of their matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding 7. They also put in a decent WC 2026 qualifying bid, finishing as runners up to Egypt with 6 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat but they just missed on a best second placed finisher play off place.
Despite scoring just 5 goals Equatorial Guinea won 2, drew 2 and lost 2 of their qualifiers and came in as distant runners up to Algeria with Togo and Liberia filling the minor places. Equatorial Guinea never threatened in WC qualifying, winning just 3 of 10 matches.
The Verdict
Looking at qualifying form and the depth of the squads I think Burkina Faso are the right ones and I’m with them to win, 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0.
Bet: Multiscores 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 at 1.85/1 with Sportingbet
Group E Algeria 9/20 Draw 32/10 Sudan 6.75/1
Algeria were in total control of their qualifying group, winning 5 and drawing 1 and they scored a total of 16 goals whilst conceding just 2. Equatorial Guinea were runners up and Togo and Liberia missed out. Adding to the feel good factor Algeria clinched 1 of Africa’s automatic spots in the 2026 World Cup Finals, winning 8 of 10 qualifiers.
Sudan were runners up to Angola in their qualifying group, edging out Niger who were third and Ghana were a big disappointment in fourth. They won 2, drew 2 and lost 2 of their matches, scoring just the 4 goals and conceding 6. Sudan finished a distant third to Senegal and DR Congo in their World Cup qualifying group.
The Verdict
Algeria come into the finals as very much an in form side. The strength of some of opposition they faced in reeling off so many wins of late could be questioned but they have found a way of getting the job done on a regular basis. Once again I’m with 1-0, 2-0 and 3-0 in the multiscores market.
Bet: Multiscores 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 at 13/10 with Sportingbet
Group F Ivory Coast 4/10 Draw 34/10 Mozambique 8/1
Ivory Coast are the defending champions and they finished runners up to Zambia in qualifying, winning 4 and losing 2 of their matches with Sierra Leone and Chad filling third and fourth. They scored 12 goals in total and conceded 3. Ivory Coast will also be one of Africa’s representatives at next years World Cup Finals after edging out Gabon for top spot, unbeaten with 8 wins and 2 draws.
Mozambique take their place in the finals after finishing as runners up to Mali in qualifying with Guinea Bissau and Eswatini missing out. They won 3, drew 2 and lost just 1 of their matches, scoring 9 goals and conceding 5. Mozambique finished third in WC qualifying, winning 6 and losing 4 of their matches in a group dominated by Algeria.
The Verdict
I’m venturing into the goalscorer market for this one and whilst there are a number of candidates in the Ivory Coast side, I’ll go with an old favourite, Amad Diallo.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Amad Diallo at 23/10 with Sportingbet
Group F Cameroon 23/20 Draw 21/10 Gabon 5/2
Cameroon came through qualifying unbeaten with 4 wins and 2 draws, Zimbabwe were runners up and Kenya and Namibia were third and fourth. Cameroon finished as runners u to Cape Verde in WC qualifying, they made the CAF play off semi finals but bowed out to DR Congo.
Gabon were runners up to Morocco in their group, they lost twice to the group winners but won 3 and drew 1 of the other 4 to come home in front of Lesotho and Central African Republic. Gabon won 8, drew 1 and lost 1 of their World Cup qualifiers and finished 1 point behind Ivory Coast but although the game went to extra time they eventually went down 4-1 to Nigeria in the CAF play off semi finals.
The Verdict
I must admit to being stumped by this one, Cameroon have the players but my feeling is Gabon are a spirited bunch capable of making life awkward. With Ivory Coast to come for both sides it could be cagey and no more than 1 goal is the play but with a fair degree of guesswork
Bet: Total goals under 1.5 at 1.62/1 with Pokerbet
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
