Ivory Coast big favourites to lift trophy

Ivory Coast Big Favourites to Lift Trophy

By Michael Gales Dec 3, 2012

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With the 2013 African Cup of Nations beginning on January 19th in South Africa, now is the perfect time to pick your outright winner. Can Ivory Coast finally live up to their 3.180* favourites tag, or will they fall short again? We look at the eight teams who are offered on the 2013 African Cup of Nations Betting outright market.

Ivory Coast: Will the Favourites Prevail?

Ivory Coast are the 3.180* favourites to win the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Sixteenth in the world rankings, the Elephants won the competition in 1992 and have been placed a number of times. They have consistently underachieved relative to the strength of their squad, however.

Last time out in 2012 they lost out to Zambia on penalties after a goalless game despite being the massive favourites to lift the 28th African Cup of Nations.

Manager Sabri Lamouchi – his first appointment as manager – has a number of talented footballers to call upon. Newcastle’s Cheikh Tiote and Manchester City’s Toure brothers are the spine of the team, while Arouna Kone and Arsenal’s Gervinho support legendary but aging captain Didier Drogba upfront.

Can Ghana or Nigeria Provide A Shock?

Four-time winners Ghana are the 6.390* second favourites to win their first African Cup of Nations since 1982. The Ghanaians have underperformed of late despite finishing runners-up back in 2008.

However, after an impressive 2010 World Cup in South Africa – eventually being eliminated in the quarter-finals against Uruguay – they have built a squad that can challenge for the crown.

There patchy 2012 form will give them slight cause for concern – won five, drawn four, lost four – but the team will take confidence from their previous experience and success in South Africa.

Their team is built around the success of the 2009 under-20 World Cup winning team, so they have played with each other for a number of years. It will be important for African Cup of Nations betting to note whether or not Michael Essien will be in the squad.

Essien stepped down from the national team as he struggled with injuries to concentrate on his club form in the English Premier League. Now in Spain, he is healthy again and has made himself available for the Black Stars.

With experience as well as youth, Ghana has both an experienced backbone and youthful talent that may take them far in South Africa.

Nigeria (6.940*) are 63rd in Fifa’s rankings and have won the tournament on two occasions back in 1980 and 1994. They lost out to Cameroon in the 2000 final on penalties, and they have reached the semi-finals in five of the last seven tournaments.

Nigeria have an experienced team with many players littered across Europe’s elite competitions. Chelsea pair Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel joins the likes of Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) and Victor Anichebe (Everton) in the Premier League week in, week out.

The deluge of African talent in the Premier League means that it is vital for anyone interested in African Cup of Nations betting to pay close attention to the league, injuries and form.

Can the Defending Champions or Hosts Prove Victorious?

Zambia provided a massive shock last year after being crowned the 2012 African Cup of Nations champions. Currently 41st in Fifa’s rankings the Copper Bullets are 11.250* to become only the third club to retain the crown.

Most of the squad ply their trade in African Leagues, but will be spearheaded by pacey Southampton striker Emmanuel Mayuka – however he has made just six appearances so far this season, and may be lacking in match fitness.

Stand-in hosts South Africa are offered at 7.530* to replicate what they achieved in 1996 and win on home soil. The triumph 16 years ago was there only ever African Cup of Nations win, but finished runners-up in 1998 and third in 2000.

Obviously the hosts didn’t need to qualify – which bodes well for the side, as they have failed to do so in the last four years. Interestingly, 11 of the 28 (39%) hosts have won the African Cup of Nations.

Long shots: Tunisia, Mali & Morocco

Tunisia can be backed at 11.750* to win their first African Cup of Nations since 2004, narrowly qualifying on away goals. Striker Issam Jemaa, who plays in Kuwait, is one to watch, with a lethal goalscoring record of 31 goals in 66 Internationals.

Morocco’s odds are even longer at 13.000* to win the tournament for the first time since 1976. Morocco qualified after beating Mozambique 4-2 on aggregate. They have a number of talented individuals such as Arsenal’s Marouane Chammakh, Liverpool’s Assaidi and Aston Villa’s Karim El Ahmadi.

Mali are the third ranked team in Africa and will hope to claim their maiden African Cup of Nations in South Africa – odds of 14.000* are available if you think they can. To do so Mali will have to draw on the experience of midfield duo Mahamadou Diara and Seydou Keita.

Click here to get the best African Cup of Nations odds.

*Odds subject to change

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