2012 Africa Cup of Nations Final: Zambia v Ivory Coast Odds and Betting Preview

LIBREVILLE, GABON - Tonight is the date of destiny for many punters in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, as pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast take on plucky Zambia in the final. The Elephants will be looking to win their first title for 20 years, whilst Zambia will be honoring the 1993 plane crash which killed 18 players just off the coast of Gabon.

Ivory Coast are huge favourites to win the final, and can be backed at best odds of 4/7 (bet £70 to make £40 profit) to win in 90 minutes with Irish firms Paddy Power and Boylesports. A draw would take the match into extra-time at 14/5 with Bet Victor, whilst bet365 are top-priced on a Zambia win at 13/2.

Zambia have defied all predictions by making it to the final, but despite beating Senegal in their opener, they continue to be underestimated by the bookmakers. Former Cambridge United manager Hervé Renard has done a magnificent job to get the Copper Bullets all the way to the Final, and they would not be in the position they now find themselves in had it not been for the attacking partnership of Christopher Katongo and Emmanuel Mayuka, who have weighed in with three goals apiece. Zambia work well together as a unit, and it is fairly remarkable that the defence has managed to keep three clean sheets in the previous three games, although they will have to be at their best in order to keep another one against the Elephants tonight. A victory would be the icing on the cake, but back home the Zambian national side are heroes in their own right and have already payed a wonderful tribute to the victims of the 1993 airplane disaster.

Ivory Coast came into the tournament as red-hot favourites at 13/8 with bet365, and now the Elephants have breezed into the final they are now just 2/9 with Paddy Power to lift the trophy tonight. That would put an end to 20 years of misery and reward a golden generation of talent with a place in history that comprises the likes of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Touré and Gervinho, who all play in the Premier League. In the 2010 World Cup the Elephants were unlucky to fall into a group with Brazil and Portugal, but now it is only little Zambia that stand in their way of silverware. However Zambia cannot afford to be underestimated, and Drogba will be desperate to atone for his penalty miss in the 2006 Final against hosts Egypt.

The correct score betting is a fascinating one, especially given that up to this point both sides’ defences have been water-tight. Ivory Coast are yet to concede a goal in the tournament, and given that their previous two Afcon finals (1992 and 2006) have finished goalless after 90 minutes, the 0-0 looks an interesting bet at 7/1 with Blue Square and bet365. The paying fans will want to see goals however, and 1-0 to the Elephants is the market-leader at 5/1 with totesport and 188bet. 2-0 to Ivory Coast is at 6/1 with Blue Square, whilst a 1-1 draw would send the game into extra-time at 7/1 with William Hill and bet365, although a correct score punt with bet365 is a better idea as they will refund your stake if the game finishes in a ‘bore draw’, which looks a distinct possibility. 3-0 to Ivory Coast looks fairly skinny at 11/1 with Sporting Bet, but a 1-0 win for Zambia would make for great headlines at 13/1 with Irish bookie Paddy Power.

The first goalscorer market always attracts plenty of attention in these huge finals, and Chelsea’s Didier Drogba is certainly not afraid of being the centre of attention. Drogba is the joint-top tournament goalscorer with three goals and he can be backed at 9/2 with Paddy Power to be the first player to find the net. It is a big plus that he takes penalties for his national side, and it would not be a surprise to see him play out of his skin as his career approaches the twilight stage and he contemplates a money-spinning transfer to China. Gervinho came up with the goods in the semi-final against Mali, and the Arsenal man is 11/2 with Coral to score first, with Salomon Kalou just behind at 6/1 with William Hill. Yaya Touré is another star worthy of consideration, and he can be found at the 10/1 mark. Zambia’s two stars, Katongo and Mayuka, can be backed at 14/1 and 20/1 respectively to score first.

The half-time/full-time market is usually a bit risky in these finals, but many will still be keen to plough into odds of 7/5 that Ivory Coast lead at the break and then win the match with Stan James. Alternatively, Draw/Ivory Coast is 7/2 with Ladbrokes and Drogba is 17/2 with Paddy Power to score two or more goals in the game.

Finally it is 13/8 with bet365 that both teams score and 11/1 with Paddy Power that Zambia win on penalties. Players have been sent off in Zambia’s previous two knockout games, so another red card could be a fair wager at 11/4 with unibet.

Boylesports will refund first goalscorer bets if your chosen player scores the second goal of the game.

The Africa Cup of Nations Final kicks-off at 7.30pm GMT on Sunday 12 February, delayed by half an hour by the organisers in order to fill the stadium. It is live on ITV4 for UK-based punters.

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