We’re in the midst of qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, so there is no time like the present to assess the field of competitors, favorites and underdogs. Focusing on the chances of Nigeria, they currently stand as the second highest ranked African team, according to FIFA.
Only Senegal, ranked #20 in the world, sit above the 35th ranked Nigerians amongst Confederation of African Football sides. Obviously, #38 Algeria, the current reigning AFCON champions, will be a factor too.
Naturally, the odds will shift a lot here and there between now and when the tournament kicks off in Cameroon, but you can learn more about Kassu Casino to get the latest odds for each side. Sports betting, especially so in global football, is absolutely huge right now, so be sure to keep current africacasinos.com/ng/betting-sites/. Beyond the teams already mentioned, Nigeria will have some major competition in the CAN field from both Morocco and Egypt.
The former is ranked #42 by FIFA while the latter is ranked #49. Egypt is definitely a force to be reckoned with in this tournament. Not only do they have the most AFCON titles of anybody (7), they also boast the continent’s best overall player, in Mohamed Salah.
The Liverpool winger is missing out on the Pharaohs qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations this week due to an ankle injury that he sustained against Leicester City at the end of September. The Reds are obviously happy that Mo Salah is out against Kenya this week and the trip to Comoros on Monday.
Egypt doesn’t need him in the side to qualify, as they’re currently in good standing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and they’ll be just fine without him.
Liverpool however will certainly need their best and most well known player, as they are still alive in five different competitions this season. They’ll need plenty of squad rotation and rest as festive period fixture congestion will soon be upon us. When all is said and done, expect Nigeria and Egypt to be among the biggest and boldest front-runners in the next tournament.
The Super Eagles, who finished third in the last AFCON, have achieved the highest FIFA ranking ever by an African side (5th in 1994), a true testament to their capabilities and potential.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.
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