African Cup of Nations 20 - 23 January 2008

[adam7982]

Originally Posted by Djslutmonkey

I've read a lot about how Mali are a good e/w punt for this tournament at a good price, but today they face what is on paper the weakest team in the group. Logically one would conclude that they will desperately want to win his one to set them up for the games against Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

You can get around 1.7 - is this value? They are 47 places above them in World Rankings (47 to 94), which suggests that they should be comfortable victors.

If Mali perform my friend as they can then they will have no problems beating Benin the key word here though is IF.

I think Mali will win

[MartyMcG_1967]

Originally Posted by adam7982

If Mali perform my friend as they can then they will have no problems beating Benin the key word here though is IF.

I think Mali will win

The only thing putting me off is that these teams drew twice with each other in qualifying. Mali should have too much for their opponents here though if they perform

[Tulenos]

A little concession at PP for the Ivory Coast match, suprisingly offering to refund not correct score bets as usual, but 1X2 bets.

If Didier Drogba scores the last goal of the above match then Paddy Power will refund all losing win-draw-win singles on that match.

[Postiga]

Is the African Nations played live on any tv channels??

Anyway im thinking off a double, each way goalscorers.. Didier Drogba 9/2 and Frederic Kanoute 7/2 both with Ladbrokes which will get you 24.75 for the double.

Two proven goalscorers who are in a league of there own in terms of quality and with plenty off experience in larger matches.

[MartyMcG_1967]

Going for a Morocco/Mali double on day two of the tournament. Mali have twice drawn with Benin in qualifying but are many people's dark horses for this tournament and if they are to have any chance of splitting the Ivory Coast and Nigeria they will need to hit the ground running here against a Benin side who do not possess the same quality as Mali with household names such as Freddie Kanoute and Mahamadou Diarra.

Don't know much about Namibia but again there looks a gulf in class here. Morocco are coached by the experienced Henri Michel who took them to the 1998 World Cup and they should be comfortable enough here.

[Djslutmonkey]

I think I'm going to sit out the Mali game on account of those qualifying draws, and have lumped on Morocco instead. Watch that blow up in my face now!

[Tulenos]

Originally Posted by Postiga

Is the African Nations played live on any tv channels??

Anyway im thinking off a double, each way goalscorers.. Didier Drogba 9/2 and Frederic Kanoute 7/2 both with Ladbrokes which will get you 24.75 for the double.

Two proven goalscorers who are in a league of there own in terms of quality and with plenty off experience in larger matches.

Eurosport covers all matches live

[friskyfitz]

Mali v Benin

Ah, I do sometimes love these fixtures. Benin, A tiny country that nobody has ever heard of, In most people's eyes, it's a place where men tend to goats and kick about a pig skin. Im afraid not!!!

Benin are well capable of beating Mail who rely so much on Kanoute and Keita. If the Seville pairing dont perform then Mali dont perform. Benin boast some decent talent too but most wont have heard of them. Mark my words, Benin will play a serious role in who qualifys from this group.

Upfront, they have Helsingborg striker Omotoyossi who was top scorer in the Swedish League last year. That alone is not a bad stat. Then there is Muri Ogunbiyi who is their "Beckham" and playmaker supreme. Abou Maiga is another who could do well here. He is based in France as many of the team are. Elsewhere in the squad, Sessegnon is at Le Mans, and there is even an Accrington Stanley player in the form of Romould Bocu They finished just one point behind Mali and Beat Togo 4-1 in qualifying. They have nothing to lose.

Benin @ 7.0 Betfair (£256 available)

[GREEN_1867]

Good shout fitz but I still feel Mali will be too strong. Sissoko and Diarra should boss that midfield.

Should be set for a good tournament.

[adam7982]

2-0 morocco so far after 7 mins

apologies this is not in livescore thread

[winningman]

Got my money on Morocco. For the rest,

Mali -0.75 - Simple, experience over inexperience. And as higlighted, Mali are relatively more complete than Benin

Ivory Coast v Nigeria is a tough match to call. Mind says Ivory Coast, heart says Nigeria. Considering, IC will be manager-less in the match, if Nigeria scores first, they might be in trouble. I'm going for Nigeria, TG over tonite.

[Postiga]

Originally Posted by Tulenos

Eurosport covers all matches live

Cheers mate.

3-1 Hattrick hero.

[adam7982]

4-1 come on lads....thats 1 game in the bag

come on ivory & Mali

[Tulenos]

Just some observation for corner market traders - the grass in Akkra is so high that the ball often can't even roll behind the line for a corner!!! A quarter of the ball is covered by the grass when it lies on the pitch.

[christo85efc]

Originally Posted by Postiga

Is the African Nations played live on any tv channels??

Anyway im thinking off a double, each way goalscorers.. Didier Drogba 9/2 and Frederic Kanoute 7/2 both with Ladbrokes which will get you 24.75 for the double.

Two proven goalscorers who are in a league of there own in terms of quality and with plenty off experience in larger matches.

If you dont have sky, i think they are shown on bbci which you can get if you have freeview. The Morocca match is currently on and hopefully they will show the Ivory Coast vs Nigeria one too

For that match - it looks tight, the backbone to Nigerias team is strong - Yobo, Mikel, Yakubu. I wouldnt be placing a large bet on the Ivory Coast, in saying that i wouldnt be betting on Nigeria neither, they are too unpredictable. Im staying away from the win-draw-lose markey.

Just a small bet on Salomon Kalou FS @ 11.00 betfair

Good news - the match is on bbci, so im settling dow now!!!

[christo85efc]

Originally Posted by Tulenos

Just some observation for corner market traders - the grass in Akkra is so high that the ball often can't even roll behind the line for a corner!!! A quarter of the ball is covered by the grass when it lies on the pitch.

Its disgraceful isnt it - what an advert for the long ball game!!

[christo85efc]

Yakubu, Martins, Kanu and Utaka playing for Nigeria - 4 strikers - although Utaka plays wing for Pompey!

Kalou, Dindane and Drogba for Ivory Coast.

Ive placed a bet on the over 2.5 goals @ 2.5 betfair

[meatman]

Originally Posted by christo85efc

Just a small bet on Salomon Kalou FS @ 11.00 betfair

Good news - the match is on bbci, so im settling dow now!!!

Nice pick mate, terrific goal

good for Ivory backers as well

[Fat Jack]

Originally Posted by Tulenos

Just some observation for corner market traders - the grass in Akkra is so high that the ball often can't even roll behind the line for a corner!!! A quarter of the ball is covered by the grass when it lies on the pitch.

Don't know what you are getting at?

In the first match Guinea had 5 corners, Ghana had 12.

[christo85efc]

Originally Posted by meatman

Nice pick mate, terrific goal

good for Ivory backers as well

Cheers mate, he scored a peach!