Egypt vs Ghana prediction: AFRICA: Africa Cup of Nations betting tips on match 2024-01-17 20:00.
A 97th minute penalty spared Egypt’s blushes in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opener, as Mo Salah’s spot-kick earned them an underwhelming 2-2 draw against rank outsiders Mozambique. A sterner test now awaits against Ghana, with Egypt ideally needing a positive result to avoid going into Group B’s deciding game with their top-two fate out of their own hands.
There’s certainly no guarantee that will be the case, despite Egypt again being favourites here, as their last five AFCON finals games have all ended level after 90 minutes. Three of those games ended 0-0, but with the Pharaohs in the midst of a 16-game scoring streak across all international formats, they’ll fancy their chances of winning here if their defence can recapture the sort of form that saw them keep three-straight clean sheets before the Mozambique game.
It’s hard to believe that a Ghana side who have competed in all-but one AFCON since 1992 haven’t won the tournament since 1982. But after a matchday one defeat to Cape Verde, four-time winners Ghana are already staring down the barrel of a second successive AFCON group stage elimination – a feat they have never before suffered in their history.
A defeat here coupled with a Cape Verde victory over Mozambique would ensure they couldn’t possibly finish in Group B’s top-two, but with four best third-placed spots up for grabs to secure a knockout berth, all is not necessarily lost should they lose here. Recent AFCON form would suggest it’s hard to see it ending much other way for Ghana, who have lost six of their last ten games at the finals (W1, D3) and haven’t beaten Egypt in the four previous H2Hs (D1, L3).
Key battle: Mostafa Mohamed netted Egypt’s opener on matchday one, with three of his last four international scouring appearances seeing his nation net exactly twice on the day. He may be marshalled here by Ghana’s Alexander Djiku, who scored against Cape Verde, but is better known for his tough tackling which has earned him three yellow cards in his last five appearances for club and country.
Hot stat: Only two of Egypt’s last 12 AFCON games at the finals saw both teams score.