After three weeks of exciting club football action, attention shifts to the 2022 World Cup qualifier matches around the various continents, including Africa.
The top players from the top clubs across the world will travel to their respective countries to participate in the qualifying matches for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
While some continents have begun the qualifying process early in the year, CAF (Africa) qualifiers (group stages) begin this midweek.
The top 26 teams in Africa, alongside the 14 teams that progressed have been drawn into 10 groups of four teams each.
Only the 10 group winners will advance to the final round of qualification where two teams will play each other for the five tickets to the World Cup.
Punters tend to avoid international matches and qualifiers due to their largely unpredictable nature and form. However, it can form a good hunting ground when carefully selected.
Here are four rewarding bet options that smart punters can utilise to earn big in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers in Africa.
Senegal To Win
They are the number one team on the continent and boast of some of the very best players, including Sadio Mane, Édouard Mendy, Gana Gueye, to mention a few.
Indeed, many see this current crop of talents as the second Golden Generation.
The Teranga Lions are the bookmakers’ favourite to top group H that includes Togo, Congo and Namibia. They play their first match against the Sparrowhawks in Dakar.
The West African team has been on an upward trajectory- one which saw it finish as runners up to Algeria in the last AFCON tournament in 2019.
Aliou Cisse’s men will be desperate to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after failing to advance from the group stage in the last edition based on a toss of a coin.
They were rampant in the Nations Cup qualifiers, winning four of six matches to finish top of Group I.
The immense quality of Senegal should see it defeat all comers this round of qualifiers. Hence, it is a safe option for punters to stake in this window.
Over 2.5 In Matches Involving Algeria
The reigning African champions are in Group A alongside Burkina Faso, Niger and Djibouti.
With Manchester City star, Riyad Mahrez leading the line, it is expected to rain goals when they take on the rest of the group, particularly Djibouti.
The Desert Foxes have been stellar in recent months, winning their last five matches by a 17-5 goal margin. Four of these five matches recording over 2.5 goals.
Djamel Belmadi will look to unleash his plethora of attacking talents, one of which is Andy Delort who finished as Africa’s top scorer in France.
This option looks sure to deliver great rewards for punters with an eye on the World Cup Qualifiers in Africa.
Goal/Goal In Matches Involving Cameroon
In the last few years, Cameroon has dropped down the pecking order on the continent that their 2017 Nations Cup win is considered a fluke by many.
There are barely any players of world-class status in the squad at this point. Captain Eric Choupo-Moting is arguably their biggest player. Yet, he is on the fringes of Bayern Munich.
The Indomitable Lions have been drawn in one of the toughest groups in the World Cup Qualifiers. They are in a group that houses Ivory Coast, Mozambique and Malawi.
With just one team advancing to the next round, it will be a fight to the finish for the top-two favourites.
Antonio Dasilva’s team is currently a blend of decent talents who play in Europe and a number of local players. The team made it to the semifinals of the CHAN competition earlier in the year.
Betting on a goal/goal affair in matches involving Cameroon is a great option for punters.
Over 1.5 Goals In Matches Involving Morocco
The Atlas Lions have not had it good with qualifying for the FIFA World Cup. They only managed to qualify for the last tournament in Russia- their first in the last five editions.
However, the North African team has made great strides in the last year. They are the current CHAN champions and qualified for the Nations Cup in outstanding fashion.
PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri are some of the notable names in this squad.
Valid Halihodzic will fancy his chances of leading his team to back-to-back World Cups having been drawn in Group I with Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sudan. They could yet face a tough challenge in the National elephants.
The attacking quality in this Moroccan side should guarantee at least two goals in their qualifying matches.
