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Statistics website tips Eagles for title

STATISTICS website The Analyst has predicted that the Super Eagles will emerge winners of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The website, which also tipped Morocco as co-favourites for the title, stated that the Eagles had a 14.79% chance of winning the trophy.

It added that despite the late withdrawals of key players in Austin Eguavoen’s side, there were still exciting talents to help Nigeria win a fourth continental title in Cameroon.

“The numbers are so close between Nigeria and Morocco that we should probably consider them co-favourites for the Africa Cup of Nations, but finalists don’t split trophies and neither do we. Neither Nigeria nor Morocco lost during the AFCON 2021 qualifiers, but they did it in different ways. Morocco only conceded once, while Nigeria let in seven goals in six matches against Sierra Leone, Benin and Lesotho,” the website stated.

“Still, the AFCON 2013 winners (Nigeria) have an ever-so-slight pre-tournament edge as they attempt to spoil the festivities for their hosts and neighbours Cameroon.

The Super Eagles will be without Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, but there’s no shortage of European attacking talent in the Nigeria camp with La Liga and Villarreal standout Samuel Chukwueze, as well as their England-based players led by Kelechi Iheanacho.

Among all 24 sides, Nigeria have only the fourth-highest likelihood of winning their group because they’ve got seven-time champions Egypt and Mohamed Salah to deal with in Group D, but things improve from there with what could be a friendlier path to the trophy than other contenders.

“Their per cent likelihood of reaching the quarter-finals is third highest at 61.63%, while their semi-final (39.71) and final (25.20) chances are second. But things won’t be so straightforward if they aren’t able to advance ahead of Egypt and their Liverpool star. The Group D winner is matched with a third-place team from either B, E or F in the round of 16. Second place in Group D will have to play the winner of Group E, which is likely to be Algeria or Ivory Coast.”

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Naija Times