BETDAQ’s Greg Walker is back with an in-depth preview of the African Nations Cup.
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He now previews the African Nations Cup 2013….
African Cup of Nations 2013 Preview
19 January-10 February.
The 29th African Cup of Nations Championship is almost upon us and whilst overall it may lack in the high standards of football skills seen in World Cups and European Championships it is arguably marginally ahead in both passion and excitement. The sixteen team’s fans make particular effort with their traditional garb, body painting and entertaining dance moves always deservedly highlighted by the Eurosport match Television director.
This Championship, traditionally held every two years, is being held two years consecutively in a switch to odd numbered years to avoid any clash with the FIFA world Cup. The 2013 CAN (Cup of African Nations) will take place in five venues across South Africa and the Country’s experience of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup should guarantee a hugely successful tournament.
2012 Champions….’copper horses’
Current champions Zambia return to try and retain their title for which they won in a dramatic and emotional 2012 final against regular tournament favourites the Ivory Coast. Zambia came in to the 2012 Championship as big underdogs and when Ivory Coast’s captain Didier Drogba blasted his extra time penalty over the bar a penalty shootout ensued and with an 8-7 victory the Zambians secured their first African Cup title. Zambia’s Stophira Sunza’s winning penalty exploded the stadium into a potion of ecstatic celebrations mixed with an undercurrent of sadness as the victors dedicated their win to the 18 members of the Zambian National team who died just a few miles from this stadium in the 1993 Zambia national football team air disaster. Coach Herve Renard deserves much credit and despite other tempting offers off the back of this victory the Frenchman has opted to stay with the copper horses which is a huge positive in their quest for back to back victories.
Host nation…..’bafana bafana’
South Africa return to the CAN after a four year absence as automatically qualified hosts. Incredibly the South Africans missed out on a place at the 2012 championship due to their misreading of the rules and played for and achieved a draw in their final home qualifying match against Sierra Leone when in actual fact it was a game they needed to win to secure qualification. Affectionately known as bafana bafana they hold the unwanted distinction of being the first host nation of a FIFA World cup to exit at the group stages however the opposite can be stated of the CAN as they hosted and won this championship in 1996.
Favourites….’The Elephants’
In recent years perennial bookmaker’s favourites the Ivory Coast have failed to live up to their billing. They will be hoping to avoid any penalty shootouts this year as this was their exit route in three of the last four CAN championships. Two of these penalty shootout defeats were in Finals so favourite backers at least got a good run for their money. The Elephants are currently the FIFA ranked number one team amongst African nations as would be expected of a team captained by legendry striker Didier Drogba and supported by a cast of football stars such as Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Check Tiote, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho and six feet eight inches young striker Lacina Traore.
The Rest….
Ghana: The goalkeeping skills of Uruguay striker Luis Suarez virtually denied the Black stars a place in the semi-final of the 2010 World Cup and not many neutrals would begrudge them a victory in South Africa 2013. Four times winners and four times runners up the Ghanaians have a strong pedigree in the CAN and will be expected to contend again however with inexperienced coach Kwesi Appiah only eight months in the job and playboy captain Asamoah Gyan plying his trade in the UAE I cannot see this young team claiming outright victory.
Nigeria: Two times winners of CAN and placed third in four of the last six championships proves that the super eagles are at least consistent. Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi will be hoping for some of that consistency as he has been quite unsuccessful to date in the CAN as under his management Togo failed to qualify for 2006 and Mali failed to get past the group stages in 2010. Chelsea’s Victor Moses & John Obi Mikel along with Uche & Yobo will make up the heart of the team.
Mali: The Eagles have not yet won a CAN and to date they are best remembered for one of the most memorable comebacks in football when they recovered from a four nil deficit with fifteen minutes left to secure a four all draw against Angola in last year’s CAN. This is a very experienced side captained by ex-Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita but they may not have the quality up front to go all the way.
Algeria: Like South Africa the Fennec Foxes won this Championship in the year that they were the host country in 1990.The north African nation did not qualify for three of the last four Championships however arrive here with potentially one of the players of the Championships. Twenty three year old attacking midfielder Sofiane Feghouli plies his trade with Valencia in Spain and his performances have been imperious for his club this season. The 2012 Algerian player of the Year could have played for the French national team but opted to stick with the Foxes.
Morocco: Hosts of the 2015 CAN the Lions of the Atlas are in South Africa more in hope than expectation. Although one time winners in 1976 Morocco have an abysmal record in CAN’s of the past and it is difficult to see the trophy ending up in Rabat at tournament’s end. On the upside they do have a soft group from which they may be able to qualify.
Tunisia: Another team to host and win a CAN the north Africans were victorious as recently as 2004. The Eagles of Carthage have a much better record than their Moroccan neighbours having qualified out of the group stages in six of their last eight attempts. Former Tunisian International Sami Trabeki took charge of this team last March and this is his first ever senior management position. The Tunisian federation have taken a huge risk in employing such an inexperienced manager and combined with a difficult group they could be heading for an early exit.
Long shots….
Angola, Burkina Faso, Congo, Togo, Niger, Ethiopia and debutants Cape Verde make up the rest and whilst a shock if any were to win we must remember that current Champions Zambia emerged victorious from the Long shots category in 2012.
Conclusion….
In a major Championship it is difficult to back a favourite but for me this year’s Ivory coast squad look a stand out bet. The Ivoirians have the highest quality throughout the squad and have integrated two new attributes to their armoury which had been absent in previous years, harmony and unity. The ‘Elephants’ cruised to the Final last year only to be undone by Zambia’s destiny. With big guns Egypt and Cameroon missing the ‘elephants’ should not have any excuses. Like Tunisia they have an inexperienced manager however the experienced players like Drogba and Yaya Toure will be able assistants.
Another team that interests me is the current holders Zambia. They are in the same side of the draw as the Ivory coast however hopefully will avoid each other by winning their respective groups. Whilst the Zambians were ‘rags’ last year they come into this championship as seventh in the betting and are not with out a chance. Coach Herve Renard’s decision to stick with the copper horses tells it’s own story and with nineteen of last years winning squad turning up in South Africa they are with a big shout of back to back victories. Zambia may not have the most skilful squad but they will be the most disciplined and organised and quite often in the CAN these are the key components on the road to becoming the kings of Africa.
Betting on BETDAQ – Greg’s Picks:
BACK 3 Points IVORY COAST Outright @ 2.9
BACK 0.5 Point ZAMBIA Outright @ 17.5
BACK 0.5 Point Lacina Traore (Ivory Coast) Top Goalscorer @ 34.0
PROFIT TO DATE: 18.46 points
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