Written by @Wayde_D for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Congo vs Nigeria | Saturday 15 November | Pointe-Noire | 16:30
Congo host Nigeria in a crucial Group A qualifier on Saturday. Congo lie second in the group with seven points from four games, a point less than leaders South Africa. Nigeria lie three points off Congo in third place and a win for the Super Eagles will mean that they stand a good chance of qualifying if they can win again at home to Bafana Bafana on Wednesday night.
To Win (90mins)
Congo 14/10
Draw 21/10
Nigeria 19/10
Congo
Congo shocked Nigeria in the reverse fixture, winning 3-2 in Calabar. It was Nigeria’s first loss at home in a qualifier since 1981 – 33 long years. Congo sit second in Group A and will seal their place at next year’s finals should they beat Nigeria here. The Red Devils have bolstered their attack by acquiring Scottish based striker Dominique Malonga. The 25-year-old striker joined current club Hibernian from Italian Serie A side Cesena and has hit the ground running, netting six times in nine appearances. Nigerian midfielder, Ramon Azeez has sounded a note of warning about another Congo striker, Thievy Bifouma, to Super Eagles players ahead of Saturday’s clash. Azeez, Bifouma’s teammate at Almeria, says Bifouma has the capability of ruining Nigeria’s chances of reaching the 2015 AFCON if he’s not carefully watched. Bifouma will come into this match even more confident than he usually is. Besides netting a double against Nigeria in the reverse fixture, he underlined his worth by scoring a brilliant goal against Barcelona in La Liga last Saturday. Another key factor for the Congolese is their coach, Claude Le Roy, one of the most respected coaches in African football. The Frenchman has transformed a team who are only in the group stages of qualifying due to Rwanda being suspended into a well-oiled machine that humbled the African Champions on home soil.
Nigeria
Stephen Keshi was officially reinstated as the Super Eagles coach after being fired two weeks prior due to a poor run that included just one win in eleven matches. Keshi has since recalled Ikechukwu Uche to his squad. The Villarreal frontman was Nigeria’s best striker in Europe last season, but has been frozen out of the national team set up by Keshi for almost two years. There is also a recall for Sunshine Stars defender Solomon Kwambe and first call-ups for Dolphins duo Emem Eduok and Tony Edjomari of Nasarawa United. The Super Eagles are third in Group A of the qualifying rounds and must win their remaining two games against Congo and South Africa to stand a chance of defending their title next year. Nigeria find themselves in the deep end after a horror start to the qualifiers that saw them lose to Congo, draw in South Africa and then lose 1-0 in Sudan. However, the Super Eagles are still in with a chance after beating Sudan 3-1 at home in their last match. A second-half strike from CSKA Moscow forward Musa opened the scoring three minutes after the break, but Sudan stunned Nigeria with an equaliser only seven minutes later. The Super Eagles were not to be denied though, and Aaron Samuel marked his full debut with a goal to put them back in front before Musa eased the tension with a third goal after 89 minutes.
VERDICT: Draw 21/10
Congo have the vital advantage of playing at home and looking at Nigeria’s recent record, the Congolese will be confident of keeping them at bay. Nigeria are yet to score a goal on the road in their two travels against South Africa and Sudan. Congo will be confident after beating Nigeria in the reverse fixture. A draw against the continental champions will be enough for Congo to book their spot in next year’s showpiece and they are tipped to do just that.
Bet on this match now at Hollywoodbets.net! Haven’t got an account? Open one here now.
