Super Eagles to soar in opening ACON outing

 

Jonno Turner battles the snow and brings two selections to warm the heart this Monday.

 

We're focusing on the African Nations Cup for our first pick of the week - and a fancied Nigeria side open their competition with a tough tie against Burkina Faso in South Africa.

 

Stephen Keshi's side have one of the strongest squads in this trophy on paper, and will be desperate to live up to expectation this year following four third placed finishes in their last five ACONs.

 

Chelsea stars John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses make up an important part of this Super Eagles side, which has not lost in eight ahead of this clash - and will be full of confidence.

 

Eleven goals scored in five, and two clean sheets in that time, suggests that Keshi is slowly finding the right blend of flair and workhorses in his side, and they are more than equipped to give any side in this trophy a game.

 

And four wins from their last five outings in this competition (including an impressive four clean sheets) indicates that Nigeria will be a real force to be reckoned with if they can find some momentum and consistency over the next fortnight.

 

Burkina Faso are not to be underestimated though: and Paul Put's side have some real quality within their squad too.

 

Midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa has been pulling the strings for French side Rennes of late, and he will be a key variable in this game unless Nigeria can keep him quiet.

 

But just two wins from their last nine away from their own patch suggests that the team formerly known as the Upper Volta may struggle to adapt to their new surroundings, and that could cost them dearly against such a quality side.

 

And just one goal scored in their last four outside of their own country points to a lack of firepower up top despite some natural quality in Moumouni Dagano and Alain Traore - and it remains to be seen whether they can consistently perform at the top level.

 

Bet 1: Nigeria (HOME) @ 1.83

 

Over to Greece now - and a cracking tie between Veria and Levadiakos in the Super League, as both sides wrestle to climb the table - but for different reasons.

 

The hosts Veria currently sit in the drop zone, and are a point from safety with a game in hand, which will give them much confidence ahead of this tie.

 

But boss Dimitrios Kalaitzidis will know that his charges must make the most of their home outings if they are to move out of the bottom two, and they have won just two of their last seven on their own patch.

 

In the bigger picture, nine without a win from 11 league games at the Veria Stadium suggests that the hosts may struggle against a Levadiakos side which has been hitting goals for fun of late.

 

The visitors have won nine of their last 11 outings, and 10 goals from five indicates that Georgios Paraschos' has built a side full of attacking threat.

 

But the Greens are also impressive on their travels, and four wins from five away from the Levadia Municipal Stadium shows that they are one of the most in-form sides in the division ahead of this one.

 

Sitting in fifth place, with a game in hand, the away side will be desperate to secure maximum points in this one in order to pile the pressure on fourth placed Atromitos.

 

Bet 2: Levadiakos (AWAY) @ 2.98

 

Bet HERE

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