Canada are enjoying a dream international break and can move even closer to qualifying for this year’s World Cup by winning in El Salvador. The Canucks are coming off triumphs over Honduras and the USA, which made it five consecutive victories for the group table toppers.
USA are under fire and under pressure after losing to Canada, but should get their World Cup campaign back on track when entertaining Honduras. Los Catrachos are bottom of the CONCACAF group after tasting defeat in six straight qualifiers and failing to score in the last couple.
Senegal will be looking to reach a second successive Africa Cup of Nations final when they face Burkina Faso. Sadio Mane and Co began the tournament as favourites in the outright betting and remain on course to justify their status after cruising through to the last four.
Canada and USA are both bang on course to qualify for this year’s World Cup finals in Qatar and a draw in Hamilton may satisfy both teams. With three automatic places up for grabs, Mexico are just behind but Panama crucially lost ground due to Thursday’s defeat at Costa Rica.
USA were held to a goalless draw by El Salvador in September’s opening round of World Cup qualifiers but should ease through the return fixture in Columbus. The Stars and Stripes have won their last three home matches, while La Selecta have tasted defeat in a trio of away games.
Senegal and Guinea were always expected to advance from Africa Cup of Nations Group B and both head into this contest with a win on the board. Liverpool stars Sadio Mane and Naby Keita will be on opposing teams for a change in Bafoussam, but the former has a better supporting cast on paper.
Cameroon survived a scare to win their Africa Cup of Nations opener and the hosts can build on that by beating Ethiopia in Group A. The Walias began as outsiders to qualify from this pool and have an even bigger mountain to climb after kicking off with a defeat.
Tunisia and Mali drew 1-1 during the pool stage of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and are backed to share the spoils again in Cameroon. With Gambia and Mauritania expected to merely make up the numbers in Group F, another stalemate would surely suit both sides.
Nigeria and Egypt should prove a class apart from Sudan and Guinea-Bissau in their AFCON pool so a draw may satisfy both sides when they meet. However, bookmakers have cut the odds of a stalemate, so we’re looking elsewhere for value in this Group D opener.
Morocco and Ghana are both expected to qualify from Group C at the Africa Cup of Nations and may settle for a share of the spoils first up. Gabon could gatecrash the top two spots but Comoros look out of their depth, so a draw would be a solid result for each of these sides.
Senegal begin the Africa Cup of Nations as favourites in the outright betting and it would be a big surprise if they have any trouble getting out of Group B. The Lions of Teranga have never won the tournament but are well fancied for success in Cameroon and can ease their way into the knockout stage.
Cameroon are the Africa Cup of Nations hosts so will be determined to get off to a confident start in front of their own fans in the tournament opener. The Indomitable Lions are one of the leading fancies at 9.50 to win the tournament for the sixth time, having triumphed most recently in 2017.
Cape Verde are clear third favourites to qualify from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations and know an opening win over rank outsiders Ethiopia is vital. The onus is on the Blue Sharks to make a fast start before facing tougher tests ahead and we think they can handle that pressure.
Rafael Benitez is under pressure to quickly improve Everton’s fortunes and that should ensure they treat their FA Cup third-round tie at Hull seriously. The Toffees are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table with just one win since late September so confidence must be low.