The knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway with two round of 16 matches on Saturday evening as spots in the quarter finals are up for grabs for four teams with two of them making it through to the last eight.
We have two of the pre-event fancied runners on show over the course of the evening but they play against each other in the pick of the matches. The other game offers up a great chance for an outsider to progress.
Angola vs Namibia (17.00)
The opening match of the knockout stages of the competition sees the surprise Group D winners Angola going up against one of the best third placed sides from the first stage of the tournament in the form of Namibia in what is a huge chance for both teams to reach the knockout stage.
Angola went into the competition very much as one of the outsiders to make progress to the latter stages but a couple of wins and a draw later they find themselves as favourites to reach the quarter finals of the event in what could be a memorable run for their nation. Namibia would have had few hopes coming into the tournament but the fact they were good enough to come through their group above Tunisia confirms that they merit respect heading into this contest regardless of what happens in it. I expect Angola to win. They have been the better of the two teams but the sheer reward on offer could make for a nervy game and with that in mind I’m happy to leave this one alone.
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Nigeria vs Cameroon (20.00)
The pick of the matches is the second one to kick off as two pre-event fancies for many clash when Nigeria, second place in Group A in the first stage of the tournament, go up against Cameroon, who themselves finished second in Group C.
Nigeria and Cameroon enter any Africa Cup of Nations with expectations of winning the tournament, although to be fair I don’t think either of them have shown their best stuff at the competition yet. You would imagine the knockout nature of the match will bring out the best of them and if that is the case then I think Nigeria will come through. In Victor Osimhen they will have the most dangerous player on the pitch in their ranks and if he has a day like he is capable of this will be a tough assignment for Cameroon. It hasn’t clicked going forward for Cameroon in this tournament, albeit they did look better when they had to against Gambia in the last game of the group, and I don’t think they are strong enough at the back to contain a Nigeria side with a wide array of attacking talent. I hope this match lives up to expectation from a watching perspective but I do think odds against on Nigeria is slightly too much given their all-round balance and attacking power.
Tips
Back Nigeria to beat Cameroon for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with Bet365
