Africa Cup of Nations - semis 7/2

[Tulenos]

Thursday 7 February 2008	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
Ghana v Cameroon (17:00GMT)	2.05	3.40	4.70	99%	Details »
Hide « Ghana v Cameroon
Ivory Coast v Egypt (20:30GMT)	1.72	3.70	6.20	101%	Details »

[Tulenos]

To qualify

Ghana v Cameroon (17:00GMT)	1.53	2.74	102%	Details »
Hide « Ghana v Cameroon
Ivory Coast v Egypt (20:30GMT)	1.33	3.50	104%	Details »

[meatman]

Ghana are way too short for me, I can't beleive that most bookies have them odds on. I'll almost certainly take them on, I'm sure Cameroon can at least take them to ET.

Ivory Coast are clearly the best team in the tourney and should win it outright, baring some sort of disaster. They'll beat Egypt for me and I already have my eye on the -0.75 line

[Tulenos]

I'd say the first match is priced up partly based on the fact Ghana are the hosts and also partly based on the fact Cameroon looks A) exhausted towards the end of the QF ET - and they also played the later match yesterday, B) bar some thirty minutes at the beginning they looked truly awful in the quarters, they simply stopped playing and never even realised Eto'o was cancelled out. TBH, I'm not that sure they can make it, ie. depend which Cameroon turns up and whether they can hold their nerves (they struggled in this department big time in the quarters).

Ivory Coast is a no-brainer, agree, but still Egypt are admittedly the most organised side the Ivorians are facing and although it doesn't look like it looking at the QF scoreline - they were struggling to break through until cca the 70th minute, ie. until scoring the second goal.

[meatman]

Cameroon +0.5 AH @ 1.92 188bet 3/10

Well I’ve got no need to stake heavily because if Cameroon do go through, then I’ll win plenty on my outright bet anyway, bit honestly feel that they have an excellent chance here. Ghana are the hosts and they must be respected for that fact, the home crowd has certainly lifted them at times. But I really haven’t been impressed with them too much and nearly all of their wins have been close tight ,and even some might day - rather lucky. They’ve fought hard but for me Cameroon are a better team. The absence of key captain John Mensah at the back can only be a negative factor for Ghana and it means that the excellent Cameroon attack force should have a better chance against their defence. I don’t think many can argue that Cameroon have impressed going forwards in this competition, and its also proven that they don’t rely totally on Samuel Eto’o for goals. Even if he does have a bad day then others can also hit the net. I really don’t see Ghana as odds on favourites in this match and I will readily bet on Cameroon +0.5. I would stake even more but I feel now at this stage it would be silly to put too many eggs into one basket. I think Cameroon will take Ghana into at least ET, and have a fine chance of progressing to the final.



Ivory Coast -0.75 AH @ 1.92 Pinnacle 3/10

There’s no doubt that Ivory Coast have been the best team in this competition so far and are strong favourites to win it outright. For me, there are a class above Egypt and should be able to get the job done inside 90 minutes. They have scored goals and created chances at will in this tournament and I just feel they should have too much. Egypt are a strange side, a team who I have found one of the hardest to predict in any major international competition. They have blown hot and cold, showing us a range of different performances. At times, their skill and pace is brilliant, whilst at other times they can be solid in defence and keep possession. If they get ahead then they could be a danger, and I admit its one worry I do have. But I just think the Ivories will overpower them here and I’ll have some smaller stakes on the elephants. There is more value n the -0.75 line compared with straight win odds of 1.65 so that’s what I’ll take.

[adam7982]

I totally agree with meatman here.....all comments and reasonings are exactly how i feel.

Cameron & Ivory Coast

[nicko]

My picks didn't take long - all expectations were for a low - scoring games in this tournament, but most games went Over. All four teams tonight are capable of scoring more than once, so my picks are Overs in both games at 2,10 and 2,00, both with 3,5/10 and a double with 1,5/10. Will probably add further 3/10 on each game during the live betting.
Agree with the reasoning above and based on that I am also considering further options - most goals in the second half in both games or total goal minutes over 130. With 120 mins of play and less time to recover Cameroon should go for an early goal/goals and if it happens I expect a very open second half. In the case of Ivory Coast and Egypt as it says above these are the teams who look much better organised defensively and a goal in the first half is the most I would expect. Odds for over 130 mins are at 2,00 and I will probably go for it with with 3/10.
Good luck

[Bettoro]

Completely agree with Ivory Coast. Egipt were simply lucky in recent matches, especially when won over Angola. Angolian side had quite good chances excep that one they scored. And what Egipt did? A penalty and the second goal, which theit striker was very surprised even himself he scored. Ivory are great, maybe it will be very hard to beat defence built by two walls, but still I think thinking of Ivory to quallify has a possibility of 70-80%. Good Luck.

[Football-Tipper]

Todays live matches

Thursday					February 7th
	Date	Home-team				Away-team			Next broadcast
	17:00 - 19:00	Africa Cup of Nations 2008							Live!
				Ghana	vs.	Cameroon
	20:30 - 22:30	Africa Cup of Nations 2008							Live!
				Cote D Ivoire	vs.	Egypt

[Football-Tipper]

Im going for over 45points bookings in both matches

Pays about 7/2 for the double

Both should be well contested and with a final at stake should be some tasty tackles going in, Especially Ghana v Cameroon

[blackcrow]

Ghana over 2.5
Both Ghana and Cameroon have shown that they can score goals during the tournament and this should continue here. Cameroon have shown that they also have problems defending, as even though they have scored 15 goals in their 4 games they have let in 5 goals while Ghana have scored 7 and conceded 2.
However Ghana will find it difficult to stop the form of Etoo especially without Mensah back in the defensive line while Ghana should be able to score against Cameroon

Ivory Coast over 2.5
Ivory Coast have score 13 goals and conceded just 1 while Egypt have scored 10 and conceded 4. Drogba and Kalou have been in great form for Ivory Coast and they should cause plenty of problems for the Egyptians who also have the played pretty well in the tournament. Their cause should be hepled by the likely absence of Toure in the Ivorians backline. While the Ivorians have shown that they are thw class team of the tournament, the Pharoahs should not be underestimated as they too have deserved their place in the top 4. Both teams should be able to score on each other and look for either side to send it over with the winner.

[MartyMcG_1967]

I'm gonna back Ivory Coast tonight aswell. I fancied them before this tournament and regret not getting a piece of the 4/1 on offer for them to win it outright. I said to myself I'd watch their game with Nigeria first, I was impressed with them in that and they have been commanding ever since. Egypt have some dangerous players including the unpredictable Mohammed Zidan but I feel the Elephants will want revenge for their final defeat to Egypt two years ago especially Drogba who missed the vital penalty.

Ivory Coast @ 1.70
6/10

[nicko]

Originally Posted by nicko

My picks didn't take long - all expectations were for a low - scoring games in this tournament, but most games went Over. All four teams tonight are capable of scoring more than once, so my picks are Overs in both games at 2,10 and 2,00, both with 3,5/10 and a double with 1,5/10. Will probably add further 3/10 on each game during the live betting.
Agree with the reasoning above and based on that I am also considering further options - most goals in the second half in both games or total goal minutes over 130. With 120 mins of play and less time to recover Cameroon should go for an early goal/goals and if it happens I expect a very open second half. In the case of Ivory Coast and Egypt as it says above these are the teams who look much better organised defensively and a goal in the first half is the most I would expect. Odds for over 130 mins are at 2,00 and I will probably go for it with with 3/10.
Good luck

I've added my last suggestions, and a further 3,5/10 on Over 2,75 in the Ghana game. Just think that in this semi the chances for more goals are bigger. Will back also Ivory Coast but on the in-play as I am not happy with 1,66 in a semi final, will wait till it gets to 1,85-1,90. If the Ivorians score earlier then my Over will look safer...
Good luck

[allthethings]

All four teams have seen games go over because in large part they have played teams that have not been able to contain them...I wish you guys well with the overs, but imo the late stages of a tournament are unders plays. Teams play tighter, not wanting to make mistakes, knowing they always have extra time. And these are mainly teams that haven't conceded...you're simply not going to see 5-1 scores here, as you did in the group stage.

[friskyfitz]

Ivory Coast v Egypt

Without doubt, Im in agreement that Ivory Coast are by far the strongest team in this tournament on form alone. Deadly going forward, they are capable of scoring plenty on a good day. Egypt have a decent attacking threat of their own and I feel that both teams are capable of scoring tonight.
Betfair's offer of 2.10 on that happening looks good to me with Drogba, Kalou,Kone, keita, Bakari, and Sanogo on show.

+2.5 goals @ 2.10 Betfair

[pupsaa]

Originally Posted by allthethings

All four teams have seen games go over because in large part they have played teams that have not been able to contain them...I wish you guys well with the overs, but imo the late stages of a tournament are unders plays. Teams play tighter, not wanting to make mistakes, knowing they always have extra time. And these are mainly teams that haven't conceded...you're simply not going to see 5-1 scores here, as you did in the group stage.

True. I'm thinking the same. Wouldn't be surprise to see 0-0, 1-0, 0-1 scores in both games.

[Laki88]

Does anybody have information about Egypt squad tonight?

[~ eric ~]

Words can’t describe how poor that first half was.

[American Locksmith]

Originally Posted by ~ eric ~

Words can’t describe how poor that first half was.

i agree.

[WHUPUNTER]

Ivory Coast are too good to miss tonight to be truthful. By far the class side in the tournament so far, they should win this with a bit in hand.