Prediction: Madagascar vs Tunisia

Prediction: Tunisia win

Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: bet365

We’re into the quarter-final stage of the Africa Cup of Nations, and we’ve got a nice mix of dark horses and favourites as we look ahead to the final few games of the tournament. The game we’re going to be taking a look at today will be contested between Madagascar and Tunisia, who find themselves in very different positions. Madagascar are on an absolute dream run through this tournament, whereas Tunisia haven’t really been able to live up to the hype – and yet, they’re still hanging on in there.

Madagascar

When you qualify for a tournament for the very first time in your history, you need to make sure that you take advantage of the opportunity that is in front of you. It’s safe to say that Madagascar have been able to do that pretty well, playing some of the best football in the entire Africa Cup of Nations. They’ve got a team full of believers that know how to play for each other, and once it’s all said and done, they’re almost certainly going to shoot up the FIFA world rankings, and deservedly so.

Team News

Marco Ilaimaharitra is set to return from suspension in order to play in this one, with Rayan Raveloson dropping to the bench.

Tunisia

Organised is one of the best words that can be used to describe Tunisia, but in a way, lucky is almost equally as suitable. Up to this point in the tournament they haven’t really come up against a nation that have really pushed them back and gone after them defensively, which has allowed them to ease into the quarter-finals despite not really playing to their potential. Still, they’ve got three games left (possibly) to do so, and they’ve been handed a pretty favourable draw in the quarters.

Team News

Wahbi Khazri is being tipped to start in the quarters after recovering from a muscle problem.

Factors to Consider

• Tunisia leads 3-1 in the overall head to head standings between the two nations.
• Madagascar’s AFCON 2019 results: 2-2 draw vs Guinea, 1-0 win vs Burundi, 2-0 win vs Nigeria, 2-2 draw vs DR Congo (won on penalties).
• Tunisia’s AFCON 2019 results: 1-1 draw vs Angola, 1-1 draw vs Mali, 0-0 draw vs Mauritania, 1-1 draw vs Ghana (won on penalties).
• This is Madagascar’s first ever appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations.
• Tunisia are one-time Africa Cup of Nations champions, with their sole win coming back in 2004.

Conclusion

The underdog story is one that we can all appreciate and follow, but in the end, more often than not, Goliath beats David. That’s how we see this game going down, and despite what is bound to be a spirited display by Madagascar, we believe the experience of Tunisia will shine through and take them into the semi-finals. This feels very similar to Portugal’s run back at Euro 2016, when they were able to make their way through to the final and win the whole thing without actually winning a game inside 90 minutes.

Prediction: Tunisia win

Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: bet365