AFCON Betting Preview: Nigeria vs Tunisia

It’s the third-fourth place play-off at the Africa Cup of Nations and the battle of the Kings of Birds.

The Carthage Eagles will tonight, Wednesday, flex their muscles and swing their beaks at the Super Eagles.

Who will win?

It’s the last match of the tournament for both Eagles and, seeing how far they have come, either of the sides will be looking to conclude a disappointing end to the Afcon 2019 on a high.

But who will carry the day?

No other team has appeared in or won more third-place matches than the Super Eagles, thus they are most bookmakers’ slight favourite to win the game at odds of (2.57)

Tunisia have never beaten Nigeria in any competitive game at home, away or in a neutral ground in regulation time but they have been chalked up at (3.10) to achieve that feat in Egypt for the first time ever over at Bet9ja.

It is a win not so farfetched given that the North Africans mercilessly thrashed Madagascar, the conquerors of Nigeria, in an earlier round.

Incredibly, that is the only win in normal time that Tunisia has recorded at the tournament, yet they were 30 odd minutes away from playing in the final.

Four draws in five matches suggest this game has it in store at some point.

You can pinch an half time draw for 3.00 at Bet9ja and the tie ending full time draw is pegged at (2.98).

The Carthage Eagles remain undefeated at this championship and an odd of (1.47) for the 2004 champions to avoid defeat at full time will do well in an accumulator.

In six previous meetings between these former champions, Nigeria has won one while the other games have all ended in stalemates.

Remarkably, all those encounters – bar one – have seen goals from either side.

At (1.88) both teams to score look too good to pass over.

Mind you, Tunisia have only failed to score in two of their previous matches while Nigeria have seen both teams score in each of their last three games.

The Super Eagles are however masters of the third-place play-off and it may not be smart betting against a team that put Algeria – the best side at this tourney – on edge for a while in the semifinal.

Therefore a (1.74) odd for Nigeria to qualify, be it at full time or on penalties looks quite juicy.

My Tip?

Not a single game that the Carthage Eagles have been involved with have witnessed a goal earlier than the first 30 minutes.

The Super Eagles are equally slow starters as well, celebrating just one goal within the first half hour of play.

So a No-Team-To-Score-In-30 minutes at (1.76) is the way to go.