Thursday Africa Cup of Nations predictions: betting preview and football tips

Best bets and analysis for Thursday's matches in Groups E & F of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Where to watch

BBCi, Sky Football, Premier League & Arena, 4pm & 7pm Thursday

Best bets

Ivory Coast draw no bet
1pt 11-8 Betfred, BoyleSports

Both teams to score in Sierra Leone v Equatorial Guinea
1pt 13-10 Hills

Tunisia
1pt EvsBetfred

Thursday betting preview

The final two Africa Cup of Nations groups will be decided on Thursday and champions Algeria will be eliminated if they fail to beat Group E leaders Ivory Coast. Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea will also have their eyes on going through in a potentially thrilling climax.

Meanwhile, Tunisia will be looking to build on their 4-0 win over Mauritania by beating Gambia, who head Group F.

Gambia v Tunisia

Sky Sports Arena, 7pm

Tunisia put aside their opening 1-0 defeat to Mali with a strong 4-0 victory over Mauritania and they should be able to get the better of Group F leaders Gambia.

Confidence in the camp should be high and the Gambians' table-topping may be on borrowed time after they needed a last-gasp penalty to snatch a draw with Mali.

Mali v Mauritania

Sky Sports Premier League, 7pm

Mali look well placed to earn their place in the knockout stage and appear to have done the hard work by beating Tunisia and earning a draw against Gambia.

They should get the better of struggling West Africa neighbours Mauritania, but Mali are short enough and there is little in their price to encourage an investment.

Ivory Coast v Algeria

BBCi & Sky Sports Football, 4pm

Holder Algeria have dug themselves into a hole after their shock 1-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea and have done little to justify being favourites against Ivory Coast.

Algeria dominated possession in their surprise defeat but they have failed to score in either of their group outings and now face a team who have lost just one of their last 15 matches.

The Ivorians were pegged back twice by Sierra Leone in their last outing – Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe scored the second goal for the Elephants – but they have a team of established stars and carry a big striking threat in Ajax forward Sebastien Haller, who was also on target.

A point would be enough for them to progress but they look a decent price in the draw-no-bet market if the motivation is there to finish their group campaign with a flourish.

Sierra Leone v Equatorial Guinea

Sky Sports Premier League, 4pm

Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea are in the picture to gain a place in the last 16 and there seems a decent chance both teams will grab the opportunity.

Draws with Ivory Coast and Algeria are decent form for Sierra Leone and their opponents should be buzzing after their win over the defending Afcon champions, which bodes well for an open game, so both teams scoring looks attractively priced.

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