Draw would suit both parties as Ivory Coast meet Angola
Published:It is hard to predict anything other than a draw in the Ivory Coast’s final Group B match with Angola as the result would ensure both teams progress to the quarter finals of the African Nations Cup.
Having won their opening two matches at the tournament, the Ivory Coast have already qualified, but still need a point to confirm their advancement as group winners.
Angola currently lie second, three points ahead of Sudan, and so a point would also be enough to reach the quarter finals without relying on other results to fall in their favour.
It is 9/4 that the meeting ends in a draw and with the Ivory Coast still to concede in the tournament, 7/1 looks good value on a goalless stalemate.
Although there would be an urge to rest players having already qualified, Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui has insisted his team will not set out to “gift away points”.
Their chances of victory are also enhanced by Angola being without suspended goalkeeper Carlos Fernandes and they can be backed at 8/13 to make it three wins from three in Group B.
Angola have the incentive of topping the group if they can triumph and with a possibility that they will be against a weakened Ivory Coast, 5/1 may prove tempting that they secure victory.
Meanwhile, if Didier Drogba scores at any time in the 90 minutes for the Ivory Coast, all losing first goalscorer bets on the match will be refunded.
If the Ivory Coast do beat Angola, Sudan could still steal second place in the group by defeating Burkina Faso in the other group match.
However, the omens are not good for either team winning as it has been 42 years since Sudan last triumphed in a game at the African Nations Cup and Burkino Faso have never won a match at the tournament outside of their own country.
Therefore, the draw may prove the most likely outcome again at 11/5, with Sudan 7/4 to taste success and Burkina Faso 7/5.
