Nigeria vs Cameroon 2019 | AFCON Betting Preview & Tip (06.07.2019)
Nigeria and Cameroon, the two old rivals, square off against each other at Alexandria Stadium in the last 16 of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. In their last meeting at the AFCON finals the Super Eagles recorded a 2-1 win over the Indomitable Lions, but Saturday’s clash will be anything but a walk in the park for Our Boys as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Co. have yet to suffer a loss at the showpiece tournament in Egypt. A close encounter is on the cards in Alexandria, but one thing is for sure, both teams are going to leave their hearts on the field as a place in the Africa Cup of Nations is at stake this time out.
Shocking loss to Madagascar
Nigeria kicked off their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in style, with the team beating Burundi and Guinea in the first two group games, but, against all odds, Our Boys suffered a 2-0 loss to Madagascar in their last match in Group B. The debutants shocked the Super Eagles at Alexandria Stadium, with coach Gernot Rohr admitting that his players played below-par, adding that there was nothing to be ashamed of as Madagascar are a good team.
Gernot Rohr – Vlad1988 / Shutterstock.com
Nigeria have no other choice but to focus on the Cameroon clash as a win over the Indomitable Lions will help the team regain a much-needed confidence. John Obi Mikel returned to the starting XI against Madagascar, but the former Chelsea and his teammates were not at their sharpest in the upsetting defeat. Our Boys will have to improve their game if they are to advance to the 2019 AFCON quarter-finals.
The return of the duo
Nigeria full-back Abdullahi Shehu made his Africa Cup of Nations debut in a 1-0 win over Burundi, but after picking up a hamstring injury, he was forced to leave the pitch before the half-time whistle. Coach Gernot Rohr couldn’t count on the Bursaspor defender in group games against Guinea and Madagascar, but the German tactician has indicated that Shehu should recover in time to face Cameroon in the last 16 of the tournament.
Jamilu Colins has yet to play a match at the 2019 AFCON, but the Paderborn defender should be fit as well for Saturday’s showdown. Arsenal ace Alex Iwobi, who was rested in the 2-0 loss to Madagascar, is likely to be recalled to the starting line-up, with Leicester City midfielder Onyinye Wilfred Ndidi pushing for a start as well. Aforementioned veteran John Obi Mikel, on the other hand, is likely to start from the bench this time out after failing to impress against Nicolas Dupuis’ troops.
Great rivalry
It has been 51 years since Nigeria and Cameroon first met in a competitive match. Back then the two countries shared the spoils in the 1970 World Cup qualifiers and it has to be noted that this will be their 11th meetings in all competitions (including friendly games).
The Indomitable Lions do not suit the Super Eagles as they defeated Our Boys in each of their three meetings in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988, 2000), but you should bear in mind that Gernot Rohr’s men are unbeaten in previous four encounters with the Cameroonians. The fact that Nigeria crushed Cameroon 4-0 in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers is certainly giving us a reason for optimism ahead of the Alexandria Stadium clash. In their last meeting at the AFCON the Super Eagles recorded a 2-1 win over the Indomitable Lions, with Jay-Jay Okocha and John Utaka scoring for Christian Chukwu’s charges.
Nigerian player Bright Dike fights with Carles Puyol of Catalonia during the match Catalonia vs Nigeria | Maxisport / Shutterstock.com
All eyes on PSG star
Over the years Jean-Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has established himself as one of Africa’s best attackers. The PSG striker scored two goals in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, but despite failing to open his goal-scoring account at the tournament in Egypt, the 30-year-old will be the man to keep an eye on in Clarence Seedorf’s team.
The good news for Our Boys is that the former Stoke City attacker has yet to find the net against Nigeria. The Cameroon captain was surprisingly left on the bench in the goalless draw with Ghana, but he is widely expected to lead the attack for the Indomitable Lions in the last 16 clash against the Super Eagles. Nonetheless, the Cameroonians will once again rely on their rock-solid defence as they do not want to take any risks in the 2019 AFCON derby.
Our Boys need a wrecking ball
Cameroon have been impressive at the back at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, with the team keeping a clean sheet in each of their three group games against Guinea-Bissau (2-0), Ghana (0-0) and Benin (0-0). The defensive partnership of Banana Yaya and Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui has been in a perfect working order at the tournament in Egypt, meaning that Our Boys will have a mountain to climb in Saturday’s encounter if they are to penetrate Cameroon back-line.
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Our Nigeria vs Cameroon Betting Tip & Prediction
Given the fact that both Nigeria and Cameroon look solid at the back, a low-scoring affair is on the horizon at Alexandria Stadium. The Cameroonians have yet to concede at the tournament in Egypt and seeing that the Super Eagles managed to keep a clean sheet in back-to-back wins over Burundi and Guinea, it is no surprise bookies offer odds of 2/5 for Under 2.5 goals bet.
Considering that there is no big value in placing the Under 2.5 goals bet this time out, we are tempted to put our money on draw. The two teams seem to be evenly matched ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 game, therefore, we believe that they are going to share the spoils in 90 minutes. Nigeria and Cameroon are 2/1 at 1XBET to play out a draw in Alexandria.
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