Hosts Cameroon further underlined their credentials as one of the favourites to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after cementing top spot in Group A with a 1-1 draw against Cape Verde on Monday.
Vincent Aboubakar struck his fifth goal of the tournament to put the Indomitable Lions in front during the first half in Yaounde, and despite Garry Rodrigues’ equaliser for Cape Verde, the point was enough for Cameroon to go through as group winners.
Top spot also means Cameroon will stay in the capital for their round of 16 tie against a third-placed side from Group C, D or E next Monday, while they also remain unbeaten on home soil in a competitive match since 1973 – a stat worth noting when you consider Toni Conceicao’s side are 5/1 to win the tournament.
Burkina Faso Progress but Cape Verde Face Nervy Wait
The point was not enough to guarantee Cape Verde’s place in the knockout stages, but they will be hopeful of advancing through as one of the best third-placed sides after collecting four points in the group.
The Blue Sharks were pipped to second place by Burkina Faso, who took the runners up position by virtue of their superior head-to-head record against Cape Verde, having won last week’s meeting between the two sides 1-0.
Burkina Faso will face the runners up from Group C in the last 16, but they will undoubtedly have to improve after being held to a 1-1 draw by group whipping boys Ethiopia on Monday. The Stallions have never won AFCON, but they are priced at 50/1 to end that wait this year.
Groups B and C Take Centre Stage on Tuesday
Groups B and C will reach a conclusion on Tuesday, with the former seeing three teams do battle for the two automatic qualification positions, including pre-tournament favourites Senegal, who have underwhelmed at the finals to date.
The Lions of Teranga sit second in the standings, level on points with leaders Guinea and one clear of third-place Malawi, who they will face in Bafoussam in their final group fixture.
A point would be enough to see Aliou Cisse’s side through, but if they want to top the group and potentially earn a more favourable route through the knockout stages, then they will have to better Guinea’s result against an already eliminated Zimbabwe.
Guinea are priced at 7/4 to top the group and Senegal are 4/9, while Malawi, who must beat Cisse’s side to stand any chance of finishing first, are available at 33/1.
In Group C, Morocco are already through and need just a point against Gabon to seal first place. A draw would also be enough for the Panthers to finish second, although they will be without captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the rest of the tournament.
The other two teams in the group, Ghana and Comoros, both know they need to win when they meet in Garoua to realistically remain in the qualification hunt – the former could still take second with a victory and a Gabon defeat.
Defending Champions on Brink of Exit
The remaining three groups will be played to a conclusion across Wednesday and Thursday, with Egypt, Guinea-Bissau and Sudan battling to join Nigeria in the knockout stages from Group D, while there is three-way battle unfolding between Gambia, Mali and Tunisia in Group F.
However, the real intrigue lies in Group E, where after picking up just one point from their opening two group games, defending champions Algeria are staring down the barrel of an early exit.
Only a win against group leaders Ivory Coast, which can be backed at 5/4, will realistically see the Desert Warriors make it through to the knockout stages, while they have drifted to 10/1 to go on and defend their title.
Algeria will also have one eye on Thursday’s other Group E contest between Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone, two outsiders that are very much still in the qualification hunt.
*All odds correct at time of writing.