Will 2022 be the year that an African side finally breaks through and reaches the semi-final stages of the World Cup? If so, then the oddsmakers believe that the African nations with the best chance to make that dream become a reality are Egypt and Senegal.
According to Las Vegas sports betting odds, both the Egyptians and Senegalese are being given a betting line of +15,000 to win the 2022 World Cup. That means a bettor would win $15,000 if they were to wager $100 on either of these nations and that country ended up winning the 2022 World Cup.
Those are the best odds on offer for any African country. It puts Egypt and Senegal on par with such nations as Sweden, Poland and Wales.
Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) all share the best performance by an African nation at the FIFA World Cup achievement. Each country reached the quarter finals.
One year out from the kickoff of the next World Cup, let’s take a look at the betting lines on the top 10 African nations.
Egypt (+15,000)
Any side led by a clinical finisher such as Liverpool’s Mo Salah is worth fearing. The Pharaohs were the first African country to reach the final stages of a World Cup tournament when they played in Italy in 1934. Egypt lost 4-2 to Hungary in the Round of 16. Egypt’s Abdul Rahman Fawzi was the first African to score in a FIFA World Cup match in that game.
Egypt has won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times. They’ve been rated as high as ninth in the FIFA world rankings. Egypt has also played in the 1990 and 2018 World Cup. Although the Egyptians have yet to record a World Cup victory, the country did set a record for the oldest player in tournament history when goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, 45, played in 2018.
Senegal (+15,000)
Playing in their first World Cup in 2002, Senegal opened with a victory over France, the current World Cup champions. The Senegalese reached the final eight before losing to Turkey in extra time.
Senegal made a second World Cup appearance in 2018, but didn’t get past the group stage. They are led by Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, who’s netted 21 goals in 71 matches for his country.
Cameroon (+20,000)
The Indomitable Lions are certainly the most well-known African side on the world stage. Cameroon has reached the World Cup seven times and played 23 games. Both are records for an African nation.
In the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals, Cameroon led England 2-1 before succumbing 3-2. Striker Vincent Aboubakar of Besiktas has scored 23 goals in 69 appearances for his country.
Ivory Coast (+20,000)
Cote d’Ivoire have appeared three times in the World Cup in 2006, 2010 and 2014.
The country that sent the soccer world Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure is currently led by Parma’s Gervinho, who’s scored 23 times in 86 appearances for Ivory Coast.
Morocco (+20,000)
The Moroccans were the first African nation to earn a point from a World Cup match, drawing 1-1 with Bulgaria at Mexico in 1970.
Morocco was also the first African team to advance to the knockout stage, reaching the Round of 16 in 1986.
“Morocco” by Wikimedia is licensed under CC BY 3.0
Nigeria (+20,000)
Nigeria’s six World Cup wins are the most recorded by an African country. The 23 goals scored by the Nigerians is also a mark for a side from Africa.
In April of 1994, the Super Eagles were ranked 5th by FIFA, the highest world ranking ever achieved by an African country.
Algeria (+25,000)
The Algerians have played in four World Cups, in 1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014. Captain Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City has scored 18 times in 61 matches for Algeria.
Algeria beat South Korea 4-2 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Ghana (+25,000)
Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty in their 2010 quarter-final against Uruguay that would’ve sent them through to the final four. The Ghanaians lost the match 4-2 on penalties.
Ghana also played in the 2006 and 2014 World Cups.
Tunisia (+30,000)
When Tunisia defeated Mexico 3-1 at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, it was the first victory ever posted by an African side in the tournament.
South Africa (+100,000)
The South Africans hosted the 2010 World Cup, the first African nation to do so. Despite a 2-1 win over France, South Africa became the first and so far, only host nation of a World Cup to fail to advance beyond the Group Stage.
They also qualified for the tourney in 1998 and 2002.
For More Updates On Celebrity Babies, Feuds, Their Riches, Siblings, And Entertainment, Keep In Touch With eCelebritymirror.
