Football tips: Paddy’s Africa Cup of Nations best bets for Wednesday

It's crunch time at AFCON and our tipster Paddy Murphy has picked his punts.

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

Wednesday sees the curtain closing on Group D in the African Cup of Nations. Nigeria have already qualified and thanks to goal difference, and even if they lose against Guinea-Bissau, they should still top the group.

Meanwhile, it is winner takes all when Egypt take on Sudan as both teams will qualify if they can take the three points. The Pharaohs are rock-solid favourites with the bookies for that one, but let’s see what value can be found in the markets for the 7pm kick-off double-header.

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Egypt vs Sudan: Mo Salah to Score First & Egypt to Win

TV: Sky Sports Mix

Nigeria really did their homework on Egypt, keeping Mo Salah and Co. to just two shots on target for the whole 90 minutes. Salah was overloaded with defenders sticking to him and the Liverpool man only had one clear chance over the game.Sudan don’t have the class of defender that Nigeria do, but they’ll dig in here, try to frustrate Egypt and hope to steal a goal on the counter. The only problem is that Sudan score very few goals, netting just three over their last five fixtures.

The Pharaohs are short-odds favourites to win here and prior to the Arab Cup played in December (a 16 team tournament which most of their European-based players didn’t contest) had enjoyed a run of 10 games undefeated, winning seven and drawing three, scoring 19 and conceding just five.

Egypt actually beat this side 5-0 in the aforementioned Arab Cup and with the added quality of their top players on board should have plenty in the tank to take the three points and advance to the knockout stage.

Salah’s form going into the tournament has seen him bag 23 goals in 26 appearances for Liverpool and he netted in Egypt’s most recent game against Guinea-Bissau too. We’re really liking the odds here for Salah to Score First and Egypt to Win.

Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria: Nigeria to Win to Nil

TV: Sky Sports Premier League

Guinea-Bissau need to win here if they’re to qualify for the next round with a draw not seeing them finish as one of the best third-placed teams. They’re likely to be in for a tough test here though. Nigeria have been very impressive of late, finding form at the perfect time, winning four of their last five fixtures, drawing one, scoring nine and conceding just two.

Guinea-Bissau, nicknamed the African Wild Dogs, which is pretty damn cool, won’t be much of a match though for their avian opponents The Super Eagles. They’ve won none of their last six games, losing four and drawing two and failed to score inall six of those games. If Nigeria can draw a blank from Mo Salah, then they can surely keep a team that hasn’t scored in six games scoreless too. Nigeria to Win to Nil has some mighty value here.

Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations tips

Egypt vs Sudan: Mo Salah to Score First & Egypt to Win
Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria: Nigeria to Win to Nil

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