What is the expected result for Nigeria at AFCON 2024?
by Steve Ashfield | by Yunchu Li
Nigeria Bid to Win Fourth AFCON Title
Nigeria are already three-time AFCON champions and come into this year's tournament as the fifth highest ranked team in Africa. They have a strong squad that looks to be potentially full of goals. Keeping clean sheets is not their expert subject though and you have to wonder if that might just make winning a fourth title a difficult task.
Inconsistent Form for Nigeria
Nigeria need to improve their form if they are to go deep at AFCON 2024. Their most recent international fixture saw them lose 2-0 in a friendly against Guinea that was played in Abu Dhabi on January 8. It may have only been a friendly but it was their last match before beginning their games in Group A of the 2024 African Cup of Nations tournament.
That defeat followed a poor start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign towards the end of last year. Two group games produced a home draw with Lesotho and a 1-1 draw in Zimbabwe. They had to come from behind in both games to rescue a point with Iheanacho (above) scoring the equaliser against Zimbabwe and leaving them third in the group.
The Super Eagles aren't quite living up to that name at present with only one win in their last five games. That was a 3-2 win over Mozambique (played in Portugal) and again they went 1-0 down early on.
It's their defensive abilities which are the biggest worry for Nigeria. They haven't kept a clean sheet in their last five games and conceded eight goals in that time. It's ok having such attacking talent as Victor Osmihen and Kelechi Iheanacho with great support from Alex Iwobi and captain Ahmed Musa but unless their defending improves, it's hard to see them getting any further than the quarter finals at this AFCON 2024.
Read our comprehensive AFCON 2024 betting tips and predictions to help you place your bets. All the way during the tournament you can access our page that is dedicated to yesterday's AFCON results. It's also going to be possible to see the upcoming games in our section dedicated to tomorrow's AFCON matches.
AFCON 2024 - Nigeria's Fixture List
Nigeria have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. A top two finish takes a side into the last 16 and the four best third placed sides also qualify. Their group fixtures are:
- Sunday 14 January - Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea - Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan
- Thursday 18 January - Ivory Coast v Nigeria - Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan
- Monday 22 January - Guinea-Bissau v Nigeria - Felix Houphouet Stadium in Abidjan
Don't forget that throughout the tournament you will be able to see all the latest scores, live text commentary and updated statistics by accessing our AFCON 2024 livescore.
What Bets to Make on Nigeria at AFCON 2024?
Nigeria are 10/1 at bet365 to win AFCON 2024. That doesn't look like odds that should be taken due to the problems we have already identified in this news item. Unless that defence of theirs suddenly learns how to keep it a lot tighter, a fourth AFCON title is not going to be won this year, so what bets should you place on Nigeria?
They are 23/20 at Unibet to win Group A and there is a possibility that can be achieved. Their key fixture will be against hosts Ivory Coast and that's their second match in this tournament.
FIrst off for Nigeria is a game against Equatorial Guinea who are ranked outside the top 100 in the latest FIFA rankings. Nigeria are 78 places higher than them and this is a game where they simply can't afford any slip-ups. You should take the odds of 4/9 that bet365 are offering on a Nigerian victory.
Three points from their first game will put Nigeria in a good position in Group A. Up next is that match against hosts Ivory Coast and now it becomes a lot more difficult. Ivory Coast have only lost one of their last nine games with only one goal conceded in their last three internationals. It's 3/1 at William Hill that Nigeria can get a win over them. The same bookmakers offer odds of 21/10 on the game ending level and that does look a possible result as does the 6/10 on both teams scoring.
Their final group game is against Guinea-Bissau, another side ranked outside the top 100. Odds aren't available yet but when they are you'll see them on our AFCON betting odds section. It's a game Nigeria should be backed to win.
If they did win the group, then the last 16 would see them face one of the best third-placed teams and possibly Tunisia in the quarter finals which is where they'd probably lose. Finishing second would give them a tougher last 16 tie against either Senegal or Cameroon and that wouldn't be an easy task.
