Super Eagles look prey to shock in African World Cup Qualifying

Nigeria are the current African Cup of Nations champions and are available at 11/10 (GENERAL) to win the opening leg in Ethiopia. Many people might think this is a good bet but I am prepared to take on the Super Eagles.

It is in 13 home games unbeaten for Ethiopia and they have a young side with a lot of talent. I think they are overpriced then at 19/10 (BETVICTOR) in the draw no bet market against a side that can blow hot and cold and failed to win a recent away game in Namibia.

The first of the five games to get underway is the one between Burkina Faso and Algeria (17:00, Saturday, BT SPORT) and things have been fired up off the pitch following the arrest of two Algerian reporters last weekend who were accused of spying. Only BWIN have been brave enough to produce a To Qualify market on these games and they should be applauded for doing so. They make Algeria 2/5 while Burkina Faso are 17/10.

Burkina Faso are the 6/4 (GENERAL) favourites for the first leg as they look to continue a run of form that has seen them go undefeated in their country since June 2012.

Algeria sit 23 places higher in the FIFA World Rankings and have won six and drawn one of their seven games played. Those wishing to back the Algerians can do so at 9/4 (BETVICTOR/SPREADEX) while the draw is 11/5 (paddy Power). The best bet in this game could be in taking Algeria striker El Arbi Soudani in the anytime scorer market which at the time of writing was not priced up. The player has 11 goals in his last 19 games in all competitions and four in his last seven.

One of the most intriguing battles is the one between the Ivory Coast and Senegal two of the bigger names in African Football. The Ivory Coast are just 1/2 (CORAL) to win the game on Saturday night (18:00, BT SPORT) as they look for a repeat of their 4-2 victory over Senegal when these sides met in the African Cup of Nations play-off. Senegal are a shadow of the side that shocked France in the 2002 World Cup and are a huge 17/2 (william hill) for the victory while the draw is 17/5 (BETVICTOR).

The best bet could be in the over 2.5 goals market which would have paid out in four of the last six meetings between these sides and in 11 of the last 13 Ivory Coast matches. ladbrokes are offering the best priced at 23/20 (ladbrokes).

The two remaining games see Tunisia take on Cameroon with the Lions of Cameroon having convinced Samuel Eto’o to come out of international retirement for this game. Both these sides are only in this stage as a result of sides fielding a player that was ineligible, Cameroon take advantage of a mistake by Togo while Tunisia are the benefits of a error from Cape Verde. Cameroon have a woeful away record while the home side look much too short in the betting so this looks a game to sit out from a betting point of view.

The final play-off should be a cracker and features two powerhouses in Ghana and Egypt though with the first leg not taking place until Tuesday we will look more at that game closer to the time.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Ethiopia in the draw no bet market v Nigeria, 19/10 (BETVICTOR)
SILVER: Over 2.5 goals between Ivory Coast and Senegal, 23/20 (ladbrokes
BRONZE: El Arbi Soudani to score anytime v Burkina Faso, best available price

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13/10/2013     © Frixo 2026