2025 African Cup of Nations

A holiday/New years bi-annual tradition like no other. The tournament kicks off on Sunday Dec 21 with all games being hosted in Morocco. The hosts are the odds on favourite to win the trophy. The upcoming world cup in June will make these matches harder to cap as the majority of the favourites have already qualified for the world cup and may be using this tournament to test out formations/players instead of focusing on winning the AFCON. Out of the top 11 odds on favourites only Nigeria, Cameroon & Mali are the trio not going to North America.

Historically looking back at the last 6 tournaments the trends favour unders and draws. Since 2012 from 252 games 37% of them ended level and averaged 2.08 goals per game. Usually the tournament is held in the winter because of the heat in Africa. This will not be a problem in Morocco as cool temperatures are forecast. So I'm expecting a 2.25 goals per game average.

Lets get it, AFCON 

I'm not a big futures player but I do have a few that I locked in. Morocco are the rightful favourites being hosts and quite frankly being overdue not having won the continental championship since 1976. However at the current odds there is zero value backing the home side. I do like the value on Mali who have never won the tournament to make a run. 

1. Mali to make the final @ 6.00/+500 (1u) Bet365

Group F features two teams heading in different directions. The Ivory Coast are the current title holders and are focusing the upcoming world cup. Cameroon have been bounced out of the world cup. The past 2 head to head Cameroon have won once and tied the other. I see this as a coin flip as to who wins the group, so going with the numbers;

2. Cameroon Group F winner @ 2.75/+175 (1u) Bet365

@Im_Chasing

Group C features two heavy weights in Nigeria & Tunisia. It is important to note that 4 out of the 6 3rd place teams advance to the next round. I see Uganda as a favourite to to edge Tanzania for 3rd. Head to head wise Uganda have won 5 and lost 3 in the last 5 years. Uganda have also have had a great run of form lately netting 18 points in their past 10 games.

3. Uganda to Qualify @ 2.10/+110 (1u) Bet365

Group A features the hosts and odds on favourite to get to the final Morocco and my pick Mali to make a run. Comoros will fight it out for 3rd place in the group versus Zambia. Head to head wise Zambia & the Comoros islands have a 2W 2L 1D record in the past 5 years. Comoros have an extra day of rest versus Zambia so I think its 50/50 who gets 3rd as 4 of the 6th place sides going through.

4. Comoros to Qualify @ 3.25/+225 (1u) Will Hill

DJ-should be a good one!

Good Luck DJ 

Rollin' with you as always!!

@Im_Chasing

@docpj72

@SPERRL

SUN DEC 21

5. HT/FT Result DRAW/Morocco @ 4.10/+310 (1u) Unibet

Morocco should take care of business in their opener. However such big favourites rarely cover the Asian handicap in this tournament. There is a 37% chance of a HT draw, I'm hoping that Comoros can hang in there until half time before succumbing to a much better side in the second half.

DJ, let’s go again this tourney!

@BaloKiD

Nice hit on Morocco DJ! The missed PK in the early minutes of the game surely helped 

MON DEC 22

6. Mali win to nil @ 2.25/+125 (1u) Bet365

7. Mali -1 @ 2.10/+110 (1u) Bet365

The last meeting between these sides ended up with 1-0 win for Mali. I pretty much expect the same as I don't see any goal scoring threat aside from Leicester's Patson Daka who has only 1 goal this season on Zambia. Form wise Zambia have lost 4 straight coming into the tournament where as Mali are undefeated in their past 3 matches.

@icemantbi

MON DEC 22

8. South Africa/Angola to DRAW @ 2.81/+181 (1u) Bet365

The last meeting between South Africa and Angola just this past summer that ended with a 1-1 score line. Both sides are in good form with Angola winning their last 2 games and South Africa winning their past 3. I expect a not to lose first approach here with Egypt the favourites in Group B still on tap. Both sides will also fancy a win versus group outsiders Zimbabwe. 

DJ

@docpj72

@SPERRL

MON DEC 22

9. HT/FT Result Egypt/Egypt @ 1.91/-110 (1u) Bet365

Zimbabwe are the odds of favourite to finish bottom of the group. They have lost the last 5 head to head games. Zimbabwe have only won once in their past 7 games. I expect a win for Egypt as they are the clear favourites to top the Group.

DJ GL this tournament. Last africa cup was a big succes. We go Again. GL 

TUE DEC 23

10. DR Congo ML @ 1.75/-133 (1u) Bet365

11. DR Congo win to nil @ 1.15/+125 (1u) Bet365

DR Congos last 5 games all were winners 4 of which were to nil. The last 2 games for Benin both losses with zero goals scored and 7 goals against. The last head to head ended with a 2-0 score line in favour of DR Congo. I'm expecting these trends to continue.

@Lizzy010