The Citizen (KZN)

Soccer 13 can total R50-million

ʂ The Cup of Nations is dominating centre stage but for TAB soccer customers this weekend is all about a R28-million Soccer 13 carryover, which should generate a mammoth pool, and carryovers to Soccer 10 and Soccer Any 13 Xtra.

- By Mark Gleeson

It took less than 24 hours from the opening whistle of the Africa Cup of Nations for the surprise results to start as the heavyweigh­t contenders struggled to find their early form and put themselves under early pressure.

It is something of a surprise that the likes of Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria all struggled, but then they are all such disparate groups that it takes time to gel. The smaller nations with limited pools of players have much more consistenc­y in selection and need less time to find their feet.

The second round of group matches begin this Thursday and include some tough clashes with hosts Ivory Coast up against Nigeria and Egypt playing Ghana. These are games none of them can afford to lose, especially not Ghana after their humiliatio­n by the Cape Verde Islands in their opening game on Sunday.

Coaches at clubs across Europe, who have seen some of their star players head off to the Cup of Nations, will secretly be hoping for early eliminatio­n, but Mohamed Salah, for example, will not be back at Liverpool for at least another week and misses Sunday’s trip to Bournemout­h.

The Egyptian star played the full 90 minutes for his club when they thrashed Bournemout­h 9-0 at Anfield in August 2022, but strangely did not get on the scoresheet that day. Perhaps Sunday’s game is one in which he will not needed by the Reds.

Ahead of that is Arsenal’s home game against Crystal Palace and they need to make up lost ground after several poor performanc­es and losses that have seen them slip five points off the pace. A confident display is needed and their break in Dubai should have helped shore up team spirit. But Palace are always tricky and there is always the potential for them to slip away with a point.

Brentford are at home to Notts Forest on Saturday, a game that’s included in the day’s Soccer 13 that could total over R50million, and will be hoping to reverse a run of poor results.

At the bottom Sheffield United will see Sunday’s home game to West Ham as an opportunit­y for precious points, but the

Hammers are in good form and getting stronger as the season unfolds.

HIRED/FIRED: Relegation­threatened Empoli made a second coaching change on Monday and fired Aurelio Andreazzol­i with the club one spot above last place in Serie A. Davide Nicola, who helped Crotone and Salernitan­a avoid relegation in recent seasons, has been hired to replace Andreazzol­i.

BACK IN ACTION: The brief mini break in the English Premier League continues this weekend with only five fixtures, but from next week it is all system go again with FA Cup fourth-round games.

WHO’S HOT: Senegal’s 20-year-old striker Lamine Camara, who was voted Best Young African Player of the Year for 2023, is proving his potential at the tournament in Ivory Coast and scored twice in their opening game on Monday.

WHO’S COLD: Ghana coach Chris Hughton had to be rescued from an irate supporter who wanted to punch him after the Black Stars lost their opening game at the Cup of Nations finals.

 ?? BackPagePi­x Picture: ?? Nigeria's Victor Osimhen beats Saul Oubina to head home the equalizer in Sunday's AFCON group A match. The 1-1 draw puts Nigeria on the backfoot when they face group leader Ivory Coast tomorrow.
BackPagePi­x Picture: Nigeria's Victor Osimhen beats Saul Oubina to head home the equalizer in Sunday's AFCON group A match. The 1-1 draw puts Nigeria on the backfoot when they face group leader Ivory Coast tomorrow.

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