2010 AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS LATEST ODDS AND BETTING TIPS

We're just a day or so away from kick-off in what looks to be one of the biggest African Nations Cups in quite some time. With African football considered one of the primary influences on some of Europes top leagues, we'll have more international stars facing off against each other than ever before. It looks like a fairly tight contest between some of the top teams and the bookies and punter seem to agree that there's one or two main favourites but four or five teams capable of winning the competition if results go their way.
The key favourite is, without a doubt, the Ivory Coast. Led by BBC African footballer of the year, Didier "It's a F*#king Disgrace" Drogba, you can expect the elephants to have a real go at this year's competition. Bet365 is listing them at a slim 9/4 to win the competition outright. That's very short odds for an outright winner. This is football, and anything can happen, but I have a feeling that if their first victory is an emphatic one (they face Burkina Faso in their opening fixture) that their odds could drop even further. 
You'll find Cameroon and Ghana expected to provide the key challenge, and both of those sides boast enough quality to win the title. I actually consider them both to be value plays here. Bet365 are listing Cameroon at 9/2 and Michael Essien's Ghana side at 5/1. The next closest competitor is Egypt at 8/1, and they know a thing or two about winning this tournament, but the team morale is said to be in shambles having lost to arch-rivals Algeria for the last African World Cup slot. This would be a redemption of Shawshank proportions if they were to whip around and win the tournament. 8/1 is a solid listing and even if they got to the final, you'd still be looking at 4/1 thanks to Bet365 offering up each-way odds of 1/2 on the top two places. The each-way selection is what makes this a lot more than just a two or three horse race. I think there are a multitude of sides that could potentially make the final. 
Other notables include Algeria at 10/1, Nigeria at 7/1, hosts Angola at 20/1, Tunisia (a very under-rated side) at 14/1, Togo at 40/1 and Gabon at 25/1. Seeing Nigeria, Algeria or Tunisia in the final wouldn't surprise me either, but I would drop my money on Egypt first. 
The tournament starts on January 10th and the opening fixture of the tourney is the host side Angola vs Mali. Bet365 lists the hosts at 5/4 to take the victory while Mali tardes at around 9/4. The draw is similarly-priced and it very much looks Angola's match to lose. Live in-play betting will be on offer for this fixture as well and I expect a number of exciting markets. On January 11th we have Malawi vs Algeria and Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso. On January 12th, we'll be watching Egypt vs Nigeria followed by Mozambique vs Benin. January 13th sees Cameroon take on Gabon and Zambia vs Tunisia. 
Former Premiership favourite Frederic Kanoute is the preferred goalscorer in the match at 5/1 first or last and 7/5 anytime. Former Manchester United player Manucho trades at 11/2 first or last and 7/4 anytime. The awesomely-named Arsenio Love trades at an enticing 15/2 first or last and 12/5 anytime. Ze Kalanga is a quality defensive player who knows how to make his presence felt at set-pieces and he is 4/1 to score anytime. Keep your eyes on Seydou Keita as well, you can back him at 7/2 anytime. 
Betting Choice will be offering up the best odds and insight on the entire tournament so be sure to check our other articles as well!