Ghana vs Cape Verde prediction: AFRICA: Africa Cup of Nations betting tips on match 2024-01-13 20:00.
Two years on from the ignominy of a humiliating group stage exit, Ghana step back onto the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) stage with a point to prove. The Black Stars have won just one of their last seven matches at the tournament proper (D4, L2), leaving boss Chris Hughton with the job of re-establishing them as a force on this continent after they reached at least the semi-finals of six straight AFCONs between 2008 and 2017!
Pre-tournament form has been far from perfect though, with Ghana scoring just one goal across a five-match sequence that’s yielded only a single victory (D1, L3). With one of the pre-tournament favourites in Egypt also sat alongside them in Group B, they can hardly afford an early slip-up in this campaign as they go in search of a first AFCON success since all the way back in 1982.
Relative minnows Cape Verde stand in their way on matchday one, with Bubista’s side competing in back-to-back AFCONs for just the second time in their history. The Blue Sharks have acquainted themselves well with the big stage however, progressing from the group stage on two of their previous three appearances.
That said, wins have proved hard to come by, with just two from their 11 previous outings in this competition. If they’re to add to that measly total, a slice of history will have to come with it as Cape Verde have lost all four of their prior meetings with Ghana without even scoring a single goal – including a 2-0 defeat in the quarter-finals of the 2013 edition of this tournament.
Players to watch: All-time leading Ghana appearance maker André Ayew could become just the third player to appear in eight editions of AFCON if he’s selected here, while a goal would make him the only player to net in seven different tournaments. Cape Verde’s Garry Rodrigues had a direct hand in both of his side’s two goals at the last AFCON (G1, A1), whilst he also assisted the opener in his nation’s most recent victory over Eswatini.
Hot stat: Ghana have scored just once before half-time in their last 11 internationals.