A truly shocking AFCON has ensued with so many of the pre-tournament favourites dropping out of the competition. Nigeria, three-time champions and, the hosts and two-time champions, Ivory Coast remain, to battle it out for the continent's highest honour.
AFCON Winner Odds
Team | Odds |
Nigeria | 4/5 |
Ivory Coast | 10/11 |
All odds are courtesy of bet365, correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.
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Nigeria and the Ivory Coast are the only two that remain now, with so many of the pre-tournament favourites being dumped out unceremoniously.
Senegal and Morocco fell in surprising circumstances, whilst Egypt failed to really get off the mark.
Heading into the final this Sunday at 20:00, it is all up in the air, as Nigeria have the better squad but, the Ivory Coast will have the crowd backing, it being their tournament.
Nigeria @4/5
The Super Eagles were not considered a pre-tournament favourite, but after some other sides have fallen off, and they went unbeaten in their group, have drawn themselves into contention.
The side holds some decent talent also, with the likes of Victor Osimhen, Napoli, Alex Iwobi, Fulham, Frank Onyeka, Brentford, and Samuel Chukwueze, AC Milan, all featuring.
They defeated Cameroon in the round of 16 with ease, consummately dispatching them 2-0, managed to pull Angola in the quarters, and then South Africa in the semis, but were taken to penalties by Bfana Bfana, in an unconvincing clash.
The Nigerians now face their toughest clash of the tournament, yet are slightly favoured having defeated the Ivory Coast in the group stages, 1-0.
Contending with the crowd will be perhaps their most strenuous task, as the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara will be rocking, the majority of the fans baking their opposition the Elephants.
Home support is a tough thing to overcome anywhere, let alone in an international tournament, and this is then taken one step further by the fervent support that the Ivorians have for the national team.
Talent is with the Nigerians, but as the AFCON has proven so often, calibre of players simply does not matter.
Ivory Coast @2/1
The Ivory Coast has fallen from grace somewhat from the days of Didier Drogba and Toure brothers, yet they are an ever-present threat to their competitor, capable of pulling results out of the bag based on pedigree alone.
The squad, whilst not possessing the might of old, has some talented players in it with Serge Aurier, Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangaré, of Notts’ Forest, as well as Simon Adingra, Brighton.
The fact they are the hosts also plays into the odds, with home support often being vital in international competitions. A dismal performance in the groups hurt the side and saw them sack their manager, something almost unheard of in the middle of a tournament.
A round-of-16 game saw them shock the joint-favourites Senegal, winning after eight penalties, as they now progress into what is an easier side of the group, courtesy of Egypt also exiting on penalties.
Mali and Cape Verde also fell to the Ivorians, even if neither victory was particularly convincing, winning by just a single goal in each.
Home backing will serve them well as the 60,000 seater stadium will be packed to the rafter with Elephants fans, all sounding their horns for their national team.
Revenge could also be on the cards, as a victory in the final would cap off what would end up being one of the great AFCON stories for the Ivory Coast.