African Cup of Nations Betting: Final shock in store?

African Cup of Nations / Alsy / 09 February 2008 / Leave a Comment

Alsy fancied at least one semi-final surprise - will the Cameroon-Egypt final spring another?

I predicted an upset, so when The Indomitable Lions produced a shock 1-0 win over Ghana I was pleased for anyone taking the [4.7] price on an Cameroon victory. Anyone backing Egypt to beat Ivory Coast at [6.6] clearly channelled Nostradamus as no one saw that shoreline coming.
Accra is finally silent after the hosts were knocked out. The Black Stars looked below par while Rigobert Song's performance was so heroic I fully expect Ridley Scott to shoot a biopic of his efforts in the near future. Song's nephew Alexandre was no less impressive covering every blade of grass in the midfield.

This was my favourite game of the tournament so far - the atmosphere was charged off the pitch while the tactical battle on it was absolutely compelling. Ghana had most of the play but Cameroon remained organised and resolute. When Alain Nkong beautifully finished off Cameroon's first chance of the second-half Ghana were simply unable to respond, with Junior Agogo wastefully heading their best opportunity over the bar. With Essien at centreback they lacked a little thrust in the midfield and, despite Bikey's attempt to grab defeat from the jaws of victory with a senseless dismissal, there was no way back for Ghana.

In the other semi-final some clinical Egypt finishing won the day but Ivory Coast played with less verve than usual. At the back Kolo Toure (usually so adept at snuffing out attacks) looked unfit while Droga and Kalou couldn't covert enough half-chances after Essam Al-Hadari decided to produce the game of his life in goal.

Egypt gobbled up their chances on the break with a little help from a ponderous reserve keeper. Stephan Loboue has not made a first-team appearance for his club this season and it showed! Once again the Ivory Coast players were left scratching their collective heads as to why they faltered at the penultimate hurdle? Perhaps, with Ghana losing earlier in the day, Ivory Coast played with one eye on the final and a hand on the trophy?

Cameroon has won this tournament four times and will fancy their chances of a record-equalling fifth title. You can back Cameroon to win at [3.15] or have the draw at [3.4]. I expect an expansive final now that the pre-tournament favourites of Ghana and Ivory Coast have exited. Both finalists will expect to score but Cameroon has the best striker in the history of the tournament in Samuel Eto'o. His sublime first-time pass to Nkong created the only goal of the semi-final and his experience and talent should not be underestimated if Egypt hopes to win.

Having beaten Cameroon 4-2 in the group stage Egypt will take a slight psychological advantage into Sunday's final and you can back them at [2.46] to defend their crown. Egypt was supposed to be a team in transition, a team struggling to score without Mido (a theory probably started by Mido himself!!) but they've bagged 14 goals to date showing few signs of nerves. The Egyptians are rarely short of confidence and, as winners of this tournament a record five times, will expect to win. Three of their titles have been won on home soil but there is precedent (Burkina Faso in 1998) for Egypt winning abroad.

Cameroon's Eto'o has made headlines with his goals but Egypt has four separate players who've hit a brace of goals in this tournament. Perhaps, with Eto'o also on the pitch, a hat-trick is a possibility? A high-scoring game is expected and you can bet that more than 2.5 goals will be scored at [1.91] but to my mind the hat-trick at [10.0] is far more tempting.

Records look set to fall regardless of who wins but, while my heart says Cameroon, my head tells me that if Egypt will win.