Thursday match predictions & Africa Cup of Nations betting tips

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

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Football, from 4pm Thursday

Best bets

Cameroon -1 goal on handicap 1pm
1pt 8-11 general

Burkina Faso 7pm
1pt 6-4 Betfair, Betfred

Thursday's betting preview

This year's Africa Cup of Nations is in full swing with the first round of group-stage matches complete, and Thursday sees the resumption of Group A.

Hosts Cameroon got off to a winning start and face Ethiopia, while Cape Verde also have three points on the board and take on Burkina Faso.

Cameroon v Ethiopia

Sky Sports Main Event, Football & Premier League, 4pm

Like previous editions of Afcon goals have been at a premium, but hosts Cameroon won their opener against Burkina Faso 2-1 and should have no issues bypassing the Ethiopia defence.

Still finding their feet under coach Wubetu Abate, Ethiopia are seriously inexperienced in Afcon tournaments and allowed opponents Cape Verde 11 shots in their 1-0 defeat last time out.

That made it six successive matches in all competitions without a clean sheet and this game could threaten to see more than just the odd goal.

With pressure eased after an opening victory, Cameroon can flex their goalscoring muscle and have plenty of options in the final third in captain Vincent Aboubakar, who netted a brace of penalties in their first match and managed six shots, Lyon winger Karl Toko Ekambi and veteran Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

The host nation should be confident in bucking the current low-scoring trend of the tournament and are worth a small bet at -1 goal on the handicap or, in other words, to win by two or more goals.

Cape Verde v Burkina Faso

Sky Sports Premier League, 7pm

Tournament hosts Cameroon got the job done against Burkina Faso last time, but the Stallions did put up a fight in that 2-1 defeat.
And Burkina Faso can get a result to match their performance this time by beating Cape Verde.

With their squad hit hard by Covid, Cape Verde were able to name only six subs in their slender win over Ethiopia and they are likely to still be missing personnel for this fixture.

Before defeat to Cameroon, Burkina Faso were unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions and could edge this one.

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