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African Cup of Nations semi-final betting tips for Egypt v Algeria
Dave Farrar / 27 January 2010 Free Bet View Market
Hassan Yebda heads the ball during Algeria's quarter-final win over Ivory Coast
"The Algerian government are going to repeat the stunt that they pulled off ahead of these teams’ World Cup play-off match earlier in the year, and they’re going to airlift fans into Angola to make sure that the team is properly supported. This shows just how much the Cup of Nations means to these players, and Algeria have to go into this game with a psychological advantage after winning that key game in the Sudan."
Egypt have been the best team in the Cup of Nations so far, but I'd think very carefully before backing them like they can't lose against Algeria.
The Egyptians looked good in the Group Stage, and then battled past Cameroon in a memorable quarter-final. They showed weaknesses in that game though, and it was only the indiscipline of Cameroon that allowed the North African team to win it in extra time.
Egypt are [2.38] to beat Algeria in 90 minutes, with their big rivals available at [3.55]. The Algerian government are going to repeat the stunt that they pulled off ahead of these teams' World Cup play-off match earlier in the year, and they're going to airlift fans into Angola to make sure that the team is properly supported. This shows just how much the Cup of Nations means to these players, and Algeria have to go into this game with a psychological advantage after winning that key game in the Sudan.
There's a common feeling that Egypt will win the Cup of Nations to make up for their absence from the World Cup, that this tournament is their sole focus of the year and that somehow makes them worthy favourites. I'm not so sure. We learn time and again in punting not to simply support a team to win because they WANT to win more than their rivals.
Because of the prevailing feeling about Egypt's campaign, I'm sure that Algeria are a false price for this game. Like the World Cup play off, it will be very tight, and I don't think that it will be at all free flowing. The 0-0 Correct Score is a huge runner at [8.8], and the over/under goals prices accurately reflect the way that the game will almost certainly be played. A classic North African tactical affair, with one goal likely to settle it. Apologies for the clichés, but in this case they happen to be true.
In all honesty, my big bet of the semi-finals will be Ghana to beat Nigeria, as I think that the Black Stars are a standout price, but Algeria are still overpriced to put out the tournament favourites, and an Algerian win shouldn't be the outsider of the three possible results here. On that basis, I'm supporting the conquerors of the Ivory Coast to do it again, and set up a North Africa v West Africa final to remember.
Dave Farrar's Best Bet: Algeria to beat Egypt in 90 minutes @ [3.55]
ALGERIA to win 1-0 @ [10.0]
