Betking_ng_AFCON-Champ2_.jpg

After an excellent group stage that saw 89 goals in 36 games, we can’t wait for what the rest of the tournament has for us. Ahead of what should be an equally exciting Round of 16, here is a preview of what to expect as well as the various betting offers on BetKing.  

 

**Nigeria vs. Cameroon** 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Indomitable Lions have faced each other 17 times, with Nigeria holding a superior advantage of 9 wins to Cameroon’s 4. However, a substantial caveat lies in the fact that three out of Cameroon’s four victories occurred in AFCON finals (1984, 1988, and 2000), and the fourth was a crucial win in 1989 that denied Nigeria a ticket to what would have been their first World Cup appearance in 1990. If you were to say Cameroon’s 4 wins have been more significant and have stung more, you definitely wouldn’t be wrong.  

Leading up to this tournament, Nigeria was expected to be prolific in scoring, courtesy of their rich attack, but also vulnerable defensively due to a leaky back-line. However, a change in goalkeeper to Stanley Nwabali and a tactical shift to a more defensive 3-4-3 formation has resulted in a reversal of expectations. The Super Eagles have scored only 3 goals, one from a penalty and one an own goal. However, they have conceded a joint tournament-low of just 1 goal, sparking a sense of optimism among the fans. The primary concern ahead of the upcoming game is Victor Osimhen’s inefficiency in front of goal. The reigning African Player of the Year leads the tournament in big chances missed (5), shots (13) and xG (2.72), yet has 1 goal to his name. He has been unreliable in critical moments and remains a worry.  

Cameroon has had a poor start to their tournament, relying on two very late goals against Gambia to secure a spot in the Round of 16. Although they have found the back of the net in each of their games, the team is yet to keep a clean sheet, and have conceded an average of 2 goals per game. Also, the ongoing Andre Onana situation continues to be a distraction for the national team. Onana, who arrived late to the tournament, conceded 3 goals in the loss to Senegal and was subsequently dropped in the win over Gambia. This decision led to tensions, with Onana reportedly involved in a bust-up with FA President Samuel Eto’o. For Nigerians, the hope is that they can capitalize on the internal conflicts within the Cameroonian camp. 


**Betting Tips** 

● Nigeria to win 

● Under 2.5 total goals 

● Alex Iwobi to give 1 or More Assist 

**Angola vs. Namibia**  

Angola and Namibia clash in the Round of 16 in a match with the potential for either complete dominance by Angola or a significant upset by Namibia, with equal likelihood. Namibia secured a commendable 3rd place with 4 points but have scored just 1 goal, marking a joint tournament low. As underdogs, they enter the game fully aware that their limited goal-scoring may pose a threat to their continuation in the tournament. Also, in their 12 previous meetings with Angola, they’ve suffered 6 losses, earned 6 draws and are yet to win.  

Angola topped a tough Group D which featured perennial dark horses Burkina Faso and the 2019 champions, Algeria. They netted 6 goals and conceded 3, marking their best-ever group stage performance at the AFCON, orchestrated by manager Pedro Gonçalves. Gonçalves has showed tactical flexibility in all three games, successfully keeping opponents on their toes. In the group stage opener against Algeria, he opted for a 3-5-2 setup to neutralize the Algerian attack, resulting in a 1-1 draw. During Matchday 2’s 3-2 victory over Mauritania, he switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with wide players on the day, Gelson and Gilberto scoring all three goals. In the final group stage game against Burkina Faso, Gonçalves once again shifted formation, this time to a 4-3-3, and secured a 2-0 win. While excessive changes in formations can be risky (ask Pep Guardiola), Gonçalves’ adeptness at keeping opponents guessing has proven successful thus far, and there’s confidence that this winning trend will persist, with BetKing providing high odds for this. 

 
**Betting Tips** 

● Angola to win 

● Angola to score Over 0.5 Goals 

**Cape Verde vs. Mauritania**  

Anyone surprised by Cape Verde’s recent dominance clearly hasn’t been paying enough attention to African football. In the last edition of the AFCON, the Blue Sharks got to the Round of 16, but understandably lost to eventual champions, Senegal. This time, they’ve stepped it up a notch by winning a group that involved 2 former champions, Egypt, and Ghana. Even more impressive is their attack that has produced 7 goals, the 3rd most in the tournament thus far. They have scored at least 2 goals in each game, a feat enjoyed by only Senegal & Egypt and, interestingly, all 7 goals have been scored by 7 different players which makes it even harder for opponents to neutralize the threat they provide in the attacking third.  

Mauritania have already exceeded expectations after securing their first ever AFCON win, thanks to a 1-0 victory over Algeria on Matchday 3. Knowing Coach Amir Abdou well, he wants more. Abdou was appointed coach of Comoros in 2014, and he built a project that saw them qualify for the 2021 edition of the AFCON where they famously eliminated Ghana and made it to the Round of 16. Assuming the coaching role for Mauritania in 2022, Abdou has guided the North Africans to their first-ever AFCON win and got them into the Round of 16 for the first time in their history. Although lacking the offensive arsenal of Cape Verde, Abdou’s tactical acumen suggests the potential for his team to spring a few surprises. 

 
**Betting Tips** 

● Cape Verde to win 

● Cape Verde to score Over 1.5 goals 

**Morocco vs. South Africa**  

**South Africa** find themselves in a world of trouble as they prepare to face tournament favorites, Morocco. A commanding 4-0 win over Namibia on Matchday 2 was sandwiched in-between two poor performances: a 2-0 loss to Mali and a goalless draw against Tunisia. The positive for South Africa is the two clean sheets they managed in three games, providing a glimmer of confidence. 

**Morocco’s** 1-1 draw with DR Congo was the only hiccup they’ve had in an otherwise brilliant tournament so far. The Atlas Lions, fuelled by high expectations from their remarkable World Cup run, have lived up to the hype. Demonstrating defensive solidity, they have conceded only 1 goal, a joint-best in the tournament. However, despite netting a commendable 5 goals, there’s a desire for more clinical finishing, especially against teams deploying two defensive midfielders, as is the case with South Africa. We expect a Morocco win here, but the Bafana Bafana will not go down without a fight.  

 
**Betting Tips** 

● Morocco to Win 

● Over 1.5 Total Goals 

**Equatorial Guinea vs. Guinea**  

In what would be the first ever meeting between these two teams, this Round of 16 tie is definitely going to be the most watched by neutrals. Though they have the youngest squad in the tournament - ironically led by one of the oldest players - Equatorial Guinea has been the most exciting team in this year’s edition of the AFCON. They lead all teams in goals scored (9) and veteran captain Emilio Nsue, is the front-runner for the Golden Boot having scored 5 goals. The audacity displayed in their 4-0 victory over Ivory Coast will be a topic of discussion for years, and possibly even decades. However, a potential concern lies in how much they are outperforming their expected goals (xG), suggesting a regression might loom. Nsue’s impressive performance, with 5 goals from 5 shots on target and an xG of 2.53, raises the question of if he should continue the shooting spree, banking on the hope that his current goal-scoring form persists. We say, keep shooting and ride the hot-hand, or rather the hot-leg. Our bet of the day is for him to once again find the back of the net and lead them to yet another quarter-final appearance.  

Guinea is eager to overcome a shadowy history that has plagued them in the AFCON. The West Africans have never won a knockout game at the AFCON, a streak dating back to 1976. In this tournament, injuries have impeded their performance, but a turning point may be on the horizon. In the decisive group stage clash against Senegal, they welcomed back Serhou Guirassy and captain Naby Keïta from injuries. This match also saw the reunion of their preferred midfield trio of Keïta, Amadou Diawara, and Ilaix Moriba. Despite losing the game, the return of these players is a net positive ahead of the knockout stage.  

**Betting Tips**

● Equatorial Guinea to win 

● Emilio Nsue anytime Scorer

● Equatorial Guinea to Score over 0.5 goals 

**Egypt vs. DR Congo**  

Since the current format of the AFCON was adopted in 1996, there have been 6 instances where a nation advanced to the knockout stages without winning a group stage game. In 2015, Guinea and DR Congo did this  - with the latter going on to secure a 3rd-place finish. In 2019, Tunisia and Benin replicated this feat, with Tunisia going as far as the semi-final. This Round of 16 tie features the 5th and 6th instances, with Egypt and DR Congo having drawn all their group stage games. 

Both teams have encountered contrasting challenges in the tournament, making the upcoming match intriguing to observe. DR Congo has showed defensive solidity, conceding only twice in three games. Nevertheless, their offensive performance, yielding just 2 goals from 44 shots, raises concerns. In contrast, Egypt has excelled in scoring despite Mo Salah’s absence due to injury, netting twice in each of their three games. Nantes’ striker Mostafa Mohamed leads the team with 3 goals and most online sports betting experts are tipping him to find the back of the net in this game. However, Egypt’s Achilles’ heel appears to be their defense, conceding 6 goals from just 8 shots on target faced - an embarrassing 75% concesion rate.  

While DR Congo showcased resilience with a 1-1 draw against Morocco on Matchday 2, Egypt holds a slight edge because of their superior scoring form, and we have the best odds for a Pharoahs’ win compared to other betting sites. 

 
**Betting Tips** 

● Egypt to Win 

● Over 1.5 Total Goals  

● Mostafa Mohamed Anytime Scorer 

**Senegal vs. Ivory Coast**  

The reigning champions face the hosts on Monday in what is expected to be a tense and hostile atmosphere. Following a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea on Matchday 3, Ivory Coast endured an agonizing three-day wait to confirm their fate in the Round of 16. The fans, expressing their frustration, engaged in riotous behaviour, causing some destruction in the streets. In response to the team’s disappointing performance, a sacrificial lamb was sought, leading to the firing of manager Jean-Louis Gasset, despite the team still being in the tournament. On Thursday, a brief rumor emerged, suggesting that former manager Hervé Renard, who had previously led them to AFCON victory in 2015, was being considered on an interim basis for the rest of the tournament. Although the rumour quickly subsided, the underlying issue of dysfunctionality within the national team persists. 

The Senegalese, meanwhile, have looked and played like the best team on the continent. They are the only team to win all three group stage matches, amassing 8 goals (the second-highest tally) and conceding just once—a shared tournament best. Senegal’s defense is swiftly gaining legendary status in African football and has served as the cornerstone of their recent dominance. Over the last three AFCON Group Stages, they have allowed a mere 2 goals in 9 games. In the two preceding AFCON editions, this sturdy defense got them to the finals on both occasions, and they’ll be aiming for a repeat of that. The prevailing expectation is not only for Senegal to emerge victorious, but to do so without conceding a goal. 

**Betting Tips** 

● Senegal to Win 

● Senegal to Keep a Clean Sheet  

**Mali vs. Burkina Faso**  

This is, without a doubt, the toughest game to call in the Round of 16 as it involves two dark horses. Mali’s 2021 AFCON performance continues to haunt their supporters, having been eliminated in the Round of 16 despite not losing within the regulation 90 minutes and conceding only once throughout the tournament. In this edition, they have seamlessly resumed their resilient approach, securing results in typical Malian fashion, and claiming the top spot in Group E. Burkina Faso, likewise, have been a tough nut to crack, securing a second-place finish in Group D with a record of 1 draw, 1 win, and 1 loss, mirroring their 2021 performance where they got to the semi-final stage. 

The key appeal for bettors in this match centers on the goal-scoring aspect. Despite the heightened scoring rate in this AFCON, a trend not seen in the past 6 editions, these two teams have been late to the party. Burkina Faso maintains an average of just 1 goal per game, a statistic shared with Mali, who have also scored 3 goals in their 3 matches. This suggests a probability of a low-scoring game, with a strong inclination towards a 1-0 or 0-1 outcome—we are leaning in that direction. 

**Betting Tips** 

● Double Chance: Mali or Burkina Faso to Win in 90 mins 

● Under 2.5 Total Goals 

● Burkina Faso to Score Under 1.5 Goals 

**[Register with BetKing](https://m.betking.com/account/registration) to get value for your money by betting on [AFCON 2023 football matches](https://m.betking.com/sports/events/prematch/football/africa-cup-of-nations/2023-afcon) today as well as other options like [Virtual Sports betting](https://m.betking.com/virtual), [Casino](https://m.betking.com/casino/) , our [Pick 11 Jackpot](https://m.betking.com/jackpot-bets/) and more!** 

With just 16 teams left in AFCON 2023, read on to know what markets are most likely for you to win big with. Sign up now to get the latest updated markets!

Betting Tips

AFCON Round of 16 Betting Preview

● Nigeria to win

● Under 2.5 total goals

● Alex Iwobi to give 1 or More Assist

● Angola to win

● Angola to score Over 0.5 Goals

● Cape Verde to win

● Cape Verde to score Over 1.5 goals

● Morocco to Win

● Over 1.5 Total Goals

● Equatorial Guinea to win

● Emilio Nsue anytime Scorer

● Equatorial Guinea to Score over 0.5 goals

● Egypt to Win

● Over 1.5 Total Goals

● Mostafa Mohamed Anytime Scorer

● Senegal to Win

● Senegal to Keep a Clean Sheet

● Double Chance: Mali or Burkina Faso to Win in 90 mins

● Under 2.5 Total Goals

● Burkina Faso to Score Under 1.5 Goals