Algeria, Tunisia seek to bounce back from disappointing opening results

North African giants Algeria and Tunisia are in search of their first wins in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations while Mali and Ivory Coast are looking to book a place in the Round of 16 of the tourney.

Gambia vs Mali

5.70 Gambia 3.55 Mali 1.85

The two nations will lock horns for the very first time in the Africa Cup of Nations with both teams winning their opening encounters by a 1-0 scoreline. 

In their maiden AFCON campaign, Gambia are looking to become the first debutants to win their first two matches at the Africa Cup of Nations since Equatorial Guinea in 2012.

Mali head coach Mohamed Magassouba reiterated their rebuilding phase and noted that his side is capable of writing their names into folklore. 

“We have started a construction phase and we are preparing for the future. Collective value is important to me, we aim to shine tomorrow against this ambitious Gambian. 

This generation can write its story, a happy story, I hope. Mali is on the quest for the supreme title. We are responsible for producing the show and winning, the rest does not concern us,” said Magassouba.

Ivory Coast vs Sierra Leone

1.37 Ivory Coast 4.50 Sierra Leone 13.0

The two teams will end their 27-year wait to meet at the AFCON stage courtesy of a hat-trick from Joël Tiéhi who to date remains the last Ivorian to score three goals in the tournament. 

Sierra Leone will need to find their scoring boots as the barren draw against Algeria marked their fifth game out six in AFCON that they have failed to score. 

The Leone Stars confirmed that David Sesay who chose to represent Sierra Leone over Kenya and Osman Kakay will miss the clash after testing positive for Covid-19. 

Tunisia vs Mauritania

1.48 Tunisia 4.10 Mauritania 9.50

The two nations are coming off disappointing 1-0 defeats at the hands of Mali and Gambia and look to set their campaign back on track in their second game of the tournament. 

Tunisia are looking to avoid their fourth straight AFCON defeat after setting an unwanted record of three straight defeats in the tournament for the first time since 1994. 

Tunisia head coach Mondher Kebaier noted that they have put the deflating 1-0 loss to Mali behind them and have their sights on three points against Mauritania. 

“The defeat to Mali is history now. All what we play for now is the three points against Mauritania. We have some absent players but those who will play will fight for the Tunisia shirt. 

We had some problems with Mali and we will correct them. Our objective is to go as far as possible in this tournament,” said Kebaier.

Algeria vs Equatorial Guinea

1.32 Algeria 4.90 Equatorial Guinea 15.0

The Desert Foxes title defence started on a shaky footing after registering a barren draw against Sierra Leone and need a have better hopes of securing a place in the last 16.

Algeria have a long-standing unbeaten run of 35 games and are also unbeaten in nine Africa Cup of Nations matches (W6 D3), since a 2-1 defeat against Tunisia in January 2017.

This will be the first encounter between the two nations in the AFCON with Algeria going in as favourites buoyed by the fact that Equatorial Guinea have only won one of their last five AFCON group-stage games.