It’s day two at the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and the tournament is in full swing after the opening night’s contest between host nation Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea complete the first set of Group A fixtures.
Then it’s the turn of Group B as Mohamed Salah’s Egypt play Mozambique, ahead of the contest between Ghana and Cape Verde.
Afcon predictions and fixtures for 14 January
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
Group A: Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea – 16.00
Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea complete the first set of Group A fixtures at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when they meet on Saturday.
Expectations are always sky high for the Super Eagles and it’s no different on this occasion, although the giddiness has been tempered somewhat by injuries to Victor Boniface and Wilfred Ndidi in the build up.
But they still have, in Victor Osimhen, one of the world’s leading strikers, with all eyes on the Napoli forward to keep the goals coming for the men in green.
Equatorial Guinea are a curious proposition, having only reached Afcon proper on three occasions.
Yet every time they have qualified, they have motored to the quarter-final stage, not to mention claiming the scalp of Algeria in the 2022 competition in Egypt.
Group B: Egypt vs Mozambique – 19.00
Another big gun makes an Africa Cup of Nations entrance on Sunday, as Egypt open Group B with a game against Mozambique.
Mohamed Salah and Co just didn’t quite have enough in their home tournament two years ago, with Salah instead left to watch his then-Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane lift the trophy for Senegal.
Five wins from six saw the Pharaohs qualify for Cote d’Ivoire with room to spare, notwithstanding their shock 2-0 loss to minnows Ethiopia en route.
Mozambique also made it through comfortably enough, despite losing twice in Qualifying Group L.
The mission now is to reach the Round of 16 again, having bested Benin and Rwanda to make it into the main Afcon draw.
Group B: Ghana vs Cape Verde – 22.00
Ghana have a lot to prove as they make their entrance at the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday.
The Black Stars were an utter shambles in the 2022 tournament, somehow contriving to finish bottom of their group despite the obvious talent at their disposal.
Veteran coach Chris Hughton is at the helm this time, overseeing a squad still dominated by the experience of Andre and Jordan Ayew, although they will keenly feel the absence of star man Thomas Partey.
Cape Verde make their fourth Afcon appearance, having sneaked through to the knockout stage in Cameroon in 2021.
They edged out Togo to make it through to Cote d’Ivoire from qualifying Group B this time.
Predictions for Sunday, 14 January 2024
Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea
| Result prediction | Nigeria to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Nigeria / Nigeria to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Egypt v Mozambique
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Ghana v Cape Verde Islands
| Result prediction | Ghana to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Ghana / Ghana to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |