The opening round of the Africa Cup of Nations group stage delivered plenty of intrigue and largely went to script, with most of the tournament heavyweights starting on the front foot.
Host country Morocco and defending champions Ivory Coast, alongside Senegal, Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria, all claimed maximum points and will now look to tighten their grip on qualification as the fixtures begin to come thick and fast.
After a day’s pause, round two gets underway on Friday with four games on the slate, and MRFixtips has picked out the most reliable betting angles worth considering.
Angola vs Zimbabwe: Friday, December 26 – 12:30
Both sides will be eager to respond after suffering narrow defeats on matchday one in Group B. Angola went down 2–1 to South Africa, while Zimbabwe were undone by a stoppage-time goal in a 2–1 loss to Egypt.
The head-to-head record between the two is evenly poised, with eight wins apiece from 19 meetings, alongside three draws.
Recent trends also point towards goals at both ends. Angola have scored and conceded in five of their last seven outings, while each of Zimbabwe’s last three matches has seen both teams get on the scoresheet. With attacking intent likely from both camps, this contest looks set up for goals at either end.
Recommended bet:
- Both teams to score – 6/5 (Ladbrokes)
Egypt vs South Africa: Friday, December 26 – 15:00
Egypt and South Africa meet with control of Group B at stake after both opened their campaigns with 2–1 victories. The Pharaohs edged past Zimbabwe, while Bafana Bafana collected all three points against Angola.
Egypt have now won back-to-back matches, though South Africa arrive on an impressive 12-game unbeaten run, winning each of their last four. The record between the sides also favours the South Africans, who are unbeaten in the last six meetings, recording four wins and two draws.
Egypt have failed to lead at the break in each of their last five outings, a trend that could once again play into South Africa’s hands.
Recommended bet:
- South Africa first-half double chance – 10/21 (Ladbrokes)
Zambia vs Comoros: Friday, December 26 – 17:30
Zambia brought an end to a four-match losing run by salvaging a late draw in their AFCON opener, while Comoros fell to a 2–0 defeat against hosts Morocco in the tournament curtain-raiser to extend their run of consecutive defeats to four.
Comoros hold the recent head-to-head edge, remaining unbeaten in the last three meetings. The disciplinary market stands out here, with Zambia receiving no more than one booking in each of their last four matches, while Comoros were cautioned just once against Morocco.
With neither side overly aggressive in recent outings, a low card count looks likely.
Recommended bet:
- Either team to receive under 2 cards – 1/2 (Betano)
Morocco vs Mali: Friday, December 26 – 20:00
Morocco can seal progression to the knockout stage with another victory, while Mali are searching for their first win after opening with a 1–1 draw.
The hosts have enjoyed the upper hand in this fixture, winning four of the last seven meetings. though the Eagles should be able to keep this one competitive, with the stakes high. Mali have not lost by more than one goal in any of their games since 2021.
Recommended bet:
- Mali +2 handicap – 1/2 (Betano)
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi is a sports writer with more than four years’ experience covering football and other global sports. A lifelong Arsenal supporter since 2004, he writes with genuine passion and a sharp eye for the stories that shape the game.
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