After their disappointing starts to the Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt and Ghana are set to clash in a thrilling encounter at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan tomorrow night. The encounter is crucial for both teams as qualification from the group stage hangs in the balance.
Below we provide you more details about the AFCON 2023 game Egypt vs Ghana vs Cape Verde, including some predictions and betting tips.
Before we go into detail here is the current table of Group B for your reference. It is very clear that the challenge for Ghana intensifies in this group match against Egypt, where a victory is equally crucial for the Egyptians to stay in contention for a second-round berth.
| Team | W | D | L | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Verde | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Egypt | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mozambique | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ghana | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Egypt vs Ghana – Pre-Match Review
For Ghana, the encounter against Egypt is a make-or-break situation for their AFCON qualification aspirations. The Black Stars, burdened by group stage exits in the 2021 AFCON and the 2022 World Cup, seek redemption under Hughton’s leadership. If they are defeated again then they will remain on the bottom of the Group B with little hope to make it into the first three teams which would move to the next stage.
Challenges for Egypt and Ghana
Egypt, led by coach Rui Vitoria, narrowly avoided defeat against Mozambique in their opener, relying on a late Mohamed Salah penalty to salvage a point. Now, the Pharaohs must secure a victory against Ghana to stay in contention for the next round. On the other hand, Ghana, under the management of Chris Hughton, suffered a shocking defeat to Cape Verde, putting immense pressure on the Black Stars to bounce back.
Historical Edge and Recent Form
History favours Egypt in recent encounters against Ghana, with the North Africans winning three of the last four matches. Egypt’s current form remains strong, being undefeated in their last five fixtures. In contrast, Ghana’s recent form has been lackluster, with only one win in their last five internationals and concerns over coach Hughton’s managerial record.
Attacking Prowess
Both teams boast formidable attacking talents. Egypt’s front three of Salah, Mostafa as well as Trezeguet pose a constant goal threat, having scored 13 goals in their last five matches. Ghana, featuring players like Mohammed Kudus, the Ayew brothers, Antoine Semenyo, and Inaki Williams, adds to their attacking prowess.
The availability of Mohammed Kudus, absent from the matchday squad against Cape Verde, remains a concern for Ghana. They hope for his fitness to bolster their attack against Egypt, who displayed defensive vulnerabilities in their previous outing. If Kudus would not be fit it would be a real drawback and not make the task any easier for the Black Stars.
Defensive Vulnerabilities
Despite Egypt’s historical reputation for a resolute defence, vulnerabilities were exposed in their recent match against Mozambique, conceding two goals. Ghana aims to capitalise on this weakness, especially considering their own defensive struggles, having kept only two clean sheets in their last eight games.
Predicted Lineups Egypt vs Ghana
Given that Mohammed Kudus’s return is still open the predicted line-up for both teams is currently as follows:
Egypt Likely Lineup : El Shenawy; Hany, Monem, Hegazy, Hamdi; Fathi, Zizo, Elneny; Salah, Mohamed, Trezeguet
Key Player: Mohammed Salah
Ghana’s Likely Lineup: Ofori; Seidu, Djiku, Salisu, Mensah; Amartey, Baba; J. Ayew, Yeboah, Paintsil; Williams
Key Player: Jordan Ayew
*Please note that the actual Lineups announcement usually happens 1 hour before kick-off
Based on the information provided above, here are some predictions and betting tips for the Egypt vs. Ghana encounter:
Egypt vs Ghana Predictions and Betting Tips
- Match Outcome (1×2):
- Considering Egypt’s recent form, its historical dominance against Ghana and furthermore their need for a victory to stay in competition, they are seen as the favourites. Hence betting on Egypt to win (1) could be a reasonable prediction.
- Both Teams to Score (BTTS):
- Given the attacking prowess of both teams and potential defensive vulnerabilities, a bet on Both Teams to Score (Yes) seems plausible. Both Egypt and Ghana possess potent offensive threats, making it likely that goals will be scored on both ends.
- Double Chance:
- To account for potential variations in the match outcome, utilising the Double Chance market could be strategic. Betting on Egypt or a Draw (1X) might provide a buffer, acknowledging the possibility of a tight contest.
- Over/Under Goals:
- Considering the attacking capabilities of both teams, betting on Over 2.5 Goals could be a viable option. The potential for an open game with goal-scoring opportunities might result in a higher goal tally.
- Handicap Betting:
- Given Egypt’s recent defensive vulnerabilities and Ghana’s desire to exploit them, betting on Ghana with a positive handicap might be a consideration. For example, a bet on Ghana +1 could be interesting if you anticipate a closely contested match.
- 1st Half/2nd Half Betting:
- If you expect the teams to start cautiously but become more attacking as the game progresses, consider bets on a Draw at Half-Time and Egypt to win at Full-Time.
- Multigoal Betting:
- Exploring the Multigoal market for a specific range, such as 2-3 total goals, could be a balanced choice, considering the potential for both teams to contribute to the scoreline.
- Player-Specific Bets:
- If Mohammed Kudus is declared fit he is expected to play a significant role for Ghana. Hence consider player-specific bets such as Anytime Goalscorer or Player to Assist.
Bet on this and many other Matchday 2 group games at PrideBet
Betting for the second group game Egypt vs Ghana and all other AFCON games is open at PrideBet with many betting markets waiting for you. Place your bets ahead of kick off while making use of for example PrideBet’s acca bonus or the boosted odds offers. However, as the game unfolds, stay tuned for in-play betting opportunities, especially if the match dynamics change. Observing how the teams perform in the early stages can help make informed in-play bets.
While all eyes in Ghana are on the encounter with Ghana there are 11 other fixtures happening on the second matchday of the group phase as listed below:
Thursday, 18 January 2024
- Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast vs Nigeria – this game will be a good one. Ivory Coast boosts of confidence after their opening win against Guinea -Bissau. Nigeria on the other hand ideally needs a win to make it to the last 16.
- Senegal vs Cameron, another high-profile clash between 2 football heavyweights
- Egypt vs Ghana
- Guinea vs Gambia
Friday, 19 January 2024
- Cape Verde vs Mozambique – this game is one to watch as the result will directly affect the overall standings in Group B.
Saturday, 20 January 2024
- Algeria vs Burkina Faso
- Mauritania vs Angola
- Tunisia vs Mali – for Tunisia winning this game is essential after their loss in the opening game against Namibia.
Sunday, 21 January 2024
- Morocco vs DR Congo
- Zambia vs Tanzania
- South Africa vs Namibia
