Group B: Betting Offers, Free Bets and Betting Tips
Check out everything you need to know about Group B in the Africa Cup of Nations, which includes Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde & Mozambique. Find the latest Africa Cup of Nations free bets and betting offers here, as well as the latest tips from our team of experts.
This group features record-winners Egypt who, after losing in the finals of both 2017 and 2022, are aiming to get their hands on this trophy for the first time in 14 years. The other heavyweights are Ghana, a team in crisis, making it unlikely that the Black Stars will win AFCON for the first time since 1982.
Group B Fixtures
All kick off times shown are GMT
Sunday 14 January- 5pm: Egypt 2-2 Mozambique
Sunday 14 January- 8pm: Ghana 1-2 Cape Verde
Thursday 18 January- 8pm: Egypt 2-2 Ghana
Friday 19 January- 2pm: Cape Verde 3-0 Mozambique
Monday 22 January- 8pm: Mozambique 2-2 Ghana
Monday 22 January- 8pm: Cape Verde 2-2 Egypt
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Group B Team Profiles
Egypt
FIFA World Ranking: 33.
Best AFCON Performance: Winners (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 & 2010).
Egypt′s Top Tip
Egypt′s Star player- Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah might just the best player representing any nation at the Africa Cup of Nations, hoping to fire his nation to glory.
The forward has become only the fifth player in Liverpool history to score 200 times for the Reds, doing so in 326 games. For his national team, Salah has netted 55 times in 93 caps, including four in a November World Cup qualifier against Djibouti.
He has scored at he last three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations so, as he chases down Hossam Hassan’s national record of 68 goals, most would expect Salah to put a serious dent in that gap at this tournament.
Egypt′s manager- Rui Vitória
Rui Vitória has been Egypt’s Head Coach since July 2022, overseeing 14 matches, winning 12 of them, his sole defeat coming in a friendly against Tunisia.
Before this, he’d managed five different club in his native Portugal, first making a name for himself at Vitória de Guimarães, some nominative determinism, guiding them to their first-ever Taça de Portugal title in 2013.
This earned him the Benfica job, winning back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and four domestic cups, as well as leading as Águias to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Vitória has since won the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr and had a brief period in charge of Spartak Moskva in Russia, overseeing Europa League victories against Napoli and Leicester.
Since taking over the Pharaohs, he’s deployed a 4-3-3, or some variation of that, which is largely defensive, keeping nine clean sheets. Mohamed Elneny leads a midfield that is in place to work hard and, ultimately, get the best out of the front three.
Trézéguet will be on the left with Mostafa Mohamed leading the line but, at the end of the day, it’s all about Salah, with the expectations of the nation exclusively resting upon his shoulders.
Egypt′s Africa Cup of Nations history
No team has won more than Egypt’s seven Africa Cup of Nations titles, most-recently enjoying an unprecedented three-peat between 2006 and 2010.
The Pharaohs have also featured in two of the last three AFCON Finals, but have lost both, beaten by Cameroon in 2017 and by Senegal on penalties two years ago.
This time, they’re determined to be picking up gold medals in Abidjan come 11 February.
Everything you need to know about Egypt
Egypt have to be considered one of, if not the, favourites to go all the way at this competition.
The Pharaohs cruised through qualifying and then began World Cup qualification with back-to-back wins over Djibouti and Sierra Leone in November.
At the last AFCON two years ago, despite losing their opener against Nigeria, Egypt conceded only twice in seven matches, overcoming both Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon in shootouts following drab goalless draws.
This was under Carlos Queiroz, who’s teams are infamously boring, but this iteration isn’t likely to be much more exciting or free-flowing, prioritising clean sheets and relying on some Salah magic.
We make the seven-times winners strong favourites to top Group B, and in the top-tier of teams most likely to win the whole shebang.
Ghana
FIFA World Ranking: 61.
Best AFCON Performance: Winners (1963, 1965, 1978 & (1982).
Ghana′s Top Tip
Ghana′s Star player- Mohammed Kudus
At just 23 years old, Mohammed Kudus has quickly established himself as a key figure, scoring seven times for his national team, including a brace in their World Cup win over Korea Republic last year.
He also netted thrice in qualifying, on target home and away against Central African Republic, and has instantaneously become a fans’ favourite at West Ham, on target five times for the since arriving in August.
In a tournament that is often low-scoring, a player like Kudus who can produce a moment of magic out of nothing is invaluable.
Ghana′s manager- Chris Hughton
Manager Chris Hughton is certainly a familiar face to English football fans.
As a player, he made over 350 appearances for Tottenham, winning two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup, also representing the Republic of Ireland 53 times, starting all three matches at Euro ‘88, their debut tournament.
Since becoming a manager, Hughton has taken charge of Newcastle United, Birmingham City, Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, guiding both the Magpies and the Seagulls to promotion, overseeing 169 Premier League matches.
In February 2022, he was appointed as technical advisor by the Ghanian FA, largely tasked with leading the recruitment of dual-nationals, many of whom are English-born, as he is.
12 months later, Hughton succeeded Otto Addo as Head Coach, so is hoping to become the first ever English-born manager to win AFCON.
Ghana′s Africa Cup of Nations history
Ghana are true African juggernauts, winning this competition on four occasions, only two countries can boast more titles, hoisting the trophy aloft in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982.
In more recent times however, the Black Stars have been the nearly team, beaten in two finals and four semi-finals at six successive editions between 2008 and 2017. However, a 2-1 victory over DR Congo in Oyem seven years ago remains their most-recent knockout phase victory.
That’s because, in 2022, Ghana were catastrophically eliminated with just a solitary point, ignominiously beaten by minnow debutants Comoros in their last game, thereby suffering a first group phase exit since 1998.
Everything you need to know about Ghana
As alluded to above, Ghana are not in a good place right now, so do not appear primed for a deep run.
The Black Stars were chaotically shambolic at the most-recent AFCON, finishing bottom of their group, results that saw Milovan Rajevać sacked. Then, exactly 70 days led, led by Otto Addo, they qualified for the World Cup very much against the odds, overcoming fierce rivals Nigeria on away goals (remember them?).
Nevertheless, this was not the start of something, given that Ghana have won only nine of their 24 fixtures since the start of 2024, beaten by Comoros in a World Cup qualifier last time out.
The Coelacanths are very much becoming their kryptonite aren’t they?
This though is a team featuring plenty of talent, including Tariq Lamptey, Daniel Amartey, Thomas Partey (if fit), the aforementioned Mohammed Kudus, Iñaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo. The Ayew brothers will surely still be there too, it wouldn’t be an AFCON without them; it’s set to be the eight edition at which André has featured, scoring in 2010, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022.
So, Ghana should have enough quality to get out of this group, but are unlikely to go much further.
Cape Verde
FIFA World Ranking: 73.
Best AFCON Performance: Quarter-finals (2013).
Cape Verde′s Top Tip
Cape Verde′s Star player- Bebé
To Manchester United supporters of a certain age, Bebé is a joke figure, given that he made just seven appearances for the club after arriving for €9 million from Vitória de Guimarães in 2010.
In more-recent times though, now 33 years old, he’s become a solid La Liga player, making almost 200 appearances for Rayo Vallecano, scoring against both Las Palmas and Real Sociedad already this season.
At international level, Bebé only switched allegiance to Cape Verde as recently as March 2022, scoring five in just 15 caps to date.
He marked his first two appearances with goals, these against Guadeloupe and Liechtenstein, the latter a brace, his sole competitive goal coming in a 3-1 win over Burkina Faso.
Cape Verde′s manager- Bubista
Cape Verde are led by Bubista who, after winning 28 caps for the national team as a player, was appointed head coach in January 2020, meaning this’ll be his second AFCON in charge.
At the tournament two years ago, the Blue Sharks operated out of a back three although, in the last 12 months or so, have switched to a rather cavalier 4-3-3.
Leandro Andrade of Qarabağ and San Jose Earthquakes’ Jamiro Monteiro are asked to cover a lot of ground in midfield, usually joined by Deroy Duarte to complete the trio.
Going forward, this squad boasts plenty of talented, maverick attackers, personified by the aforementioned Bebé, but also Aberdeen’s Duk and Garry Rodrigues of Ankaragücü could be categories in this way.
Ryan Mendes, now with Fatih Karagümrük, is the top scorer in the squad and, having scored during six different AFCON qualification cycles, is seeking his first goal at the finals themselves.
Given that we expect Cape Verde to be open and attacking, goalkeeper Vozinha, who’s started ten of the 11 AFCON matches his country have ever featured in, will need to be at his best.
To say the 37-year-old has had a journeyman career would be an understatement, his last four clubs are: Zimbru Chișinău, Gil Vicente, AEL Limassol and now AS Trenčín.
Cape Verde′s Africa Cup of Nations history
Cape Verde made their Africa Cup of Nations debut as recently as 2013, but have now qualified for four of the last six editions.
As debutantes, they got through their group unbeaten, before a 2-0 defeat to Ghana in the quarter-finals, before drawing all three matches in 2015 and going home courtesy of goal-scored, the sixth tiebreaker.
After failing to qualify for back-to-back editions, the Blue Sharks returned to the AFCON stage two years ago, getting through their group by beating Ethiopia, before defeat at the hands of Senegal in the round of 16.
Their overall record stands at: 2 wins. 6 draws. 3 defeat. This team may not win many games, but they don’t lose many either.
Everything you need to know about Cape Verde
Cape Verde may not be traditional African juggernauts, nor are they likely winners of this competition, but they’ll be stern opposition for anybody, and we expect them to get through this group, even if only in third.
The Blue Sharks statement win of qualifying came over Burkina Faso in June before, in their most-recent outing, a World Cup qualifier, they beat minnows Eswatini 2-0.
Bubista’s team kick off their campaign against Ghana in Abidjan who, as outlined above, are a bit of a basket case right now, so an upset could be on the cards.
After that Cape Verde are likely to beat Mozambique, thereby doing enough to get through even before they face Egypt on 22 January.
Whoever does knock the Blue Sharks out of this competition, possibly in the round of 16, will have to work hard to do so.
Mozambique
FIFA World Ranking: 111.
Best AFCON Performance: Group stage (1986, 1996, 1998 & 2010).
Mozambique′s Top Tip
Mozambique′s Star player- Geny Catamo
As you may have been able to work out, there aren’t any world class, high-profile players in the Mozambique ranks, so we’re highlighting ultra-talented 22 year old winger Geny Catamo.
Having spent last season on loan at Marítimo, Catamo returned to Sporting CP in the summer, scoring twice for them so far, netting against Moscavide and Boavista.
He is yet to establish himself as a key figure in Rúben Amorim’s team, but just featuring at all for one of Portugal’s Os Três Grandes (big three) means he’s a cut above his international teammates.
For his country, Catamo has scored six times in just 20 caps, on target against Rwanda, Nigeria and Angola in 2023.
Mozambique′s manager- Chiquinho Conde
Os Mambas are managed by Chiquinho Conde, who’s been in charge since 2021, having led five different domestic clubs beforehand, followed by a brief stint as Vitória Setúbal U23s coach in Portugal.
During his playing career, he won the Taça de Portugal with both Belenenses and Sporting, before moving to Major League Soccer, representing New England Revolution and the now defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny.
Under Conde, Mozambique deploy a rather defensive 4-2-3-1, which they will continue to do given that they’ll be underdogs in all three matches they play at this tournament.
Their creator in chief is Domingues who, despite being 40 year old, will be deployed as the number ten, and remains the heartbeat of this side, two decades on from his debut.
He started all three of their matches at the 2010 AFCON and, fitness pitting, will do so again 14 years on.
Mozambique′s Africa Cup of Nations history
Mozambique have previously featured at four Africa Cup of Nations, debuting in 1986, with their most-recent participation coming in 2010.
To date, os Mambas have never won an AFCON match in 12 attempts, mustering only two draws, these coming against Tunisia in 1996 and Benin in 2010.
Only Benin (14) have played more AFCON matches without ever winning one, although they did reach the 2019 quarter-finals, prevailing in a penalty shootout, so Mozambique, in many ways, hold this unwanted record.
Everything you need to know about Mozambique
As outlined above, Mozambique’s primary aim is to win a first-ever Africa Cup of Nations match.
It was seen as a major achievement for Chiquinho Conde’s team just to qualify, given that they’d missed each of the last six editions. Os Mambas beat Benin 3-2 in Maputo back in September, Clésio with a 93rd minute winner, a result that saw them pip Benin to score spot in Group L.
Earlier in the campaign, they lost both encounters with Senegal, 5-1 in Dakar and 1-0 at home, emphasising that they will struggle to compete with the continent’s best. To underline this further, Mozambique’s final game of 2023 was a 2-0 defeat to Algeria in World Cup qualifying.
At this tournament, os Mambas have landed in a tough looking Group B, so are one of the leading candidates to go home with zero points.
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