Friday 24 March’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying betting tips: Previews, predictions and odds

Friday’s AFCON qualifiers: Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau, Senegal vs Mozambique, Ivory Coast vs Comoros, Cameroon vs Namibia, Egypt vs Malawi, Tunisia vs Libya, Burkina Faso vs Togo, Guinea vs Ethiopia, Mali vs Gambia, Equatorial Guinea vs Botswana, DR Congo vs Mauritania, South Africa vs Liberia, Cape Verde vs Eswatini and Uganda vs Tanzania.

Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau

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Nigeria have been imperious in AFCON qualifying, so will their 100% record continue here?

Back in June, the Super Eagles beat Sierra Leone in their opener before a 10-0 win over São Tomé and Príncipe four days later.

Victor Osimhen scoring four times in Nigeria’s biggest-ever win.

So, José Peseiro’s side are in first place in Group A, very much intending to stay there.

Guinea-Bissau meanwhile are second, confident of qualifying as runners-up.

Those two will meet again in Bissau on the final matchday in, what’ll surely turn out to be, a straight shootout for qualification.

Here, the home fans inside Moshood Abiola National Stadium will be expecting a win.

Senegal vs Mozambique

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Will reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal maintain their 100% record in this qualification campaign?

The Lions of Teranga currently have maximum points on the board, having beaten Benin 3-1 and then Rwanda 1-0 last June.

Sadio Mané scoring all four of those goals, three of which were from the penalty spot.

In 2022, Aliou Cissé’s side won Senegal’s first-ever AFCON title, before reaching the World Cup knockout stages in Qatar.

This year is all about qualifying for next January’s tournament, at which they’ll hope to retain their trophy.

Mozambique meanwhile have not qualifed for an AFCON since 2010, but are in a decent position to change that.

The Mambas currently sit second in Group L, following a 1-1 draw with Rwanda and then a shock 1-0 win in Benin.

At Diamniadio Olympic Stadium though, Senegal are likely to cruise to victory.

Côte d’Ivoire vs Comoros

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Will Côte d’Ivoire maintain their place at the top of Group H?

So far, les Éléphants have four points on the board, having beaten Zambia 3-1 before a goalless draw in Lesotho.

This is odd so bear with; the Ivory Coast have already qualified for next year’s AFCON as hosts, but do take part in qualifying, with their results impacting opponents, if not themselves.

So, while this double-header isn’t important for Jean-Louis Gasset’s team, it very much does for their opponents.

Comoros made their AFCON debut in Cameroon last year and, against the odds, reached the knockout stages, before bowing out against the hosts.

This time round, the Coelacanth beat Lesotho in their opener, before a narrow 2-1 defeat in Zambia four days later.

Those two meet on the final matchday in Ikoni which, in all likelihood, will decide who takes second place.

For now, can Comoros spring a surprise at Stade Bouaké?

Cameroon vs Namibia

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Will Cameroon pull cleat at the top of Group C?

So far, les Lions Indomptables have maximum points on the board, beating Burundi last June, with Karl Toko Ekambi the game’s only scorer.

The five-times winners have featured at 18 of 21 AFCONs since 1980, with Rigobert Song’s side very much expected to further improve that record.

Below them, Namibia and Burundi are fighting it out for second, with Kenya having been disqualified.

Those two teams drew 1-1 last summer, and will meet again in June, pretty much in a straight shootout for qualification.

Namibia have only ever featured at three Africa Cup of Nations in their history, so qualification would be a major achievement for the Brave Warriors.

Here though, Cameroon are expected to cruise to victory at Stade Ahmadou-Ahidjo in Yaoundé.

Egypt vs Malawi

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All four teams in Group D have four points on the board, meaning this month will be decisive in determining who qualifies.

Egypt, of course, are odds-on favourites to take first place, although the record seven-times winners are currently bottom of the pile.

The Pharaohs began their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Guinea in Cairo before a shock 2-0 defeat to group minnows Ethiopia on the road.

Since then, Rui Vitória has taken over as manager and, having won all three friendlies at the helm, will be looking to carry that 100% start into meaningful matches.

Malawi meanwhile also won their opener, beating Ethiopia thanks to a pair of Gabadinho Mhango penalties.

However, they were then beaten 1-0 by Guinea, conceding a stoppage time winner in Conakry.

The Flames reached the round of 16 at AFCON last year, beating Zimbabwe to get there before defeat to Morocco.

In this clash at Cairo International Stadium, anything other than a comfortable Egypt win would be a big surprise.

Tunisia vs Libya

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Will Tunisia make sure they end the night top of Group J?

The Eagles of Carthage made the perfect start to AFCON qualifying, smashing most-likely challengers Equatorial Guinea 4-0 back in June.

However, three days later, Jalel Kadri’s side were held to a goalless draw by minnows Botswana in Francistown.

Nevertheless Tunisia, who’e qualified for the last 15 Africa Cup of Nations, are well placed to continue that streak.

Libya meanwhile beat Botswana in their opener, Saleh Al Taher the only scorer, before a 2-0 defeat in Equatorial Guinea.

The Mediterranean Knights last featured at an AFCON in 2012, and that fact is not likely to change in this cycle.

Those inside Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès are likely to be celebrating a home win.

Burkina Faso vs Togo

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Will Burkina Faso’s perfect record in this group continue?

Back in June, les Étalons won both matches, beating Cape Verde 2-0 and then Eswatini 3-1.

Burkina Faso have featured at six of the last seven AFCON tournaments, reaching the semi-finals in Cameroon just last year.

Thus, Hubert Velud’s side will cruise through this group.

Togo meantime have just one point to their name, held to a 2-2 draw by minnows Eswatini, conceding in the 94th minute, before a 2-0 defeat in Cape Verde.

Les Éperviers have missed the last two Africa Cup of Nations, with that streak set to continue in 2024.

This game is taking place at Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco but, either-way, Burkina Faso are set to prevail.

Mali vs the Gambia

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Will Mali make it three wins out of three in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying?

Back in June, the Eagles began this campaign with two emphatic wins, demolishing Congo 4-0 and then South Sudan 3-1.

Monaco’s Mohamed Camara scoring in both games.

Mali have qualified for eight successive AFCON tournaments, with Éric Chelle’s team well on their way to extending that streak.

The Gambia meanwhile made their major tournament debut in Cameroon last year, getting all the way to the quarter-finals, beating Mauritania, Tunisia and Guinea before falling to the hosts.

This time round, the Scorpions beat South Sudan in their opener before a narrow defeat to Congo four days later.

Tom Saintfiet’s side host Congo on the final matchday in September, with that game likely to be decisive in determining who takes second spot.

Here, Mali are likely to be too strong at Stade du 26 Mars.

Guinea vs Ethiopia

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All four teams in Group D have four points on the board, meaning this month will be decisive in determining who qualifies.

Guinea are well-placed to take a top two spot, having lost 1-0 to Egypt before a 1-0 victory over Malawi.

Naby Keïta with a stoppage time winner in the latter in Conakry.

The National Elephants have qualified for seven of the last ten AFCONS, including each of the last two, and two wins this month would leave them in a great position to further improve that record.

Ethiopia meantime, the lowest-ranked side in this group, currently lead the way, having lost 2-1 to Malawi before a shock 2-0 victory over Egypt.

Dawa Hotessa and Shimelis Bekele the scorers in one of the country’s most famous wins of all time back in June.

The Walia Ibex featured at AFCON 2022, just their second appearance for four decades, so will believe they can upset the odds and qualify again.

Who will win this key game in Casablanca, Morocco?

Equatorial Guinea vs Botswana

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Equatorial Guinea will be targeting a pair of wins over Botswana this month that’ll leave them in pole position to qualify.

The National Thunder have only ever featured at three AFCONs but, when they do get there, they invariable make an impact.

On debut, they reached the quarter-finals in 2012, got all the way to the semi-finals three years later before, last January, featuring in the last eight again, this time ousted by Senegal.

Last June, Juan Micha’s side made a mixed start to this campaign, smashed 4-0 in Tunisia before a 2-0 home win over Libya.

With Tunisia likely to take top spot, all Equatorial Guinea have to do is finish second, a feat they’re more than capable of achieving.

Botswana meanwhile lost 1-0 in Libya before holding Tunisia to a surprise goalless draw in Francistown.

The Zebras sole AFCON appearance came in 2012, and they’ll probably need four points from this month’s matches to have any chance of changing that.

The home side should be too strong at Estadio de Malabo.

DR Congo vs Mauritania

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After making a horrendous start to qualifying last June, can DR Congo salvage their campaign?

Despite being the top seeds in Group I, the Leopards currently have zero points on the board, beaten 1-0 by Gabon in Kinshasa and then 2-1 by Sudan in Omdurman.

This isn’t the first time DR Congo have made a mess of AFCON qualifying though.

They also missed out on last year’s edition, despite being one of just ten teams to reach the final round of World Cup qualifying, beaten by Morocco in that two-legged play-off 12 months ago.

So, Sébastien Desabre’s side really need maximum points this month if they’re to remain in the hunt for a top two finish.

In contrast, Mauritania currently sit top of the group, having smashed Sudan 3-0 before a scoreless draw in Gabon.

The Lions of Chinguetti made their AFCON debut in 2019, before also qualifying for subsequent edition last year.

So, two positive results from this month’s double-header against DR Congo will leave Amir Abdou’s team in pole position to qualify again.

Will either claim a priceless win at Stade de Japoma in Douala, Cameroon?

South Africa vs Liberia

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With Morocco running away at the top, and Zimbabwe having been suspended, second place in Group K will be a straight shootout between these two.

South Africa are the perennial underachievers in African football, failing to qualify for four of the last seven AFCONs, including last year’s edition.

This time round, all Bafana Bafana need to do is accumulate 4+ points from this double-header and they’ll book their place in Côte d’Ivoire for January 2024.

Liberia meanwhile haven’t qualified for AFCON since 2002 when George Weah, now president of the country, was still playing.

However, with the return fixture to come in Monrovia on Tuesday, the Lone Stars believe they can become the latest team to knock South Africa out in qualifying.

Will the hosts be celebrating a crucial win at Orlando Stadium?

Cape Verde vs Eswatini

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Will Cape Verde remain on track for another AFCON appearance?

The Blue Sharks have qualified for three of the last five Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the knockout stages in Cameroon 14 months ago.

In this group, Bubista’s team lost their opener against Burkina Faso, before a 2-0 win over Togo three days later.

Cape Verde and Burkina Faso are expected to ease through this group, so will they pull clear of the other two this month?

Eswatini meanwhile had to beat Somalia in the preliminary round just to make it this far.

The side, formally known as Swaziland, held Togo to a credible 2-2 draw back in June, but were then beaten 3-1 by Burkina Faso.

In short, a home win should be on the cards at Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde.

Uganda vs Tanzania

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Will either of these two get their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns back on track?

Both currently have just one point on the board, after drawing with Niger and losing to Algeria last June.

For Uganda, they qualified for AFCON 2017 and 2019, before missing out on the most-recent edition.

Tanzania also featured in Egypt four years ago, qualifying for their first AFCON in 39 years.

These two sides will meet twice this week, with the return clash at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Tuesday.

With Niger expected to finish bottom and Algeria set to take first place, these head-to-head encounters will be crucial in determining who qualifies as runners-up.

Will there be a winner at Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt?