Super Eagles look to make mark on Group C

 

Jonno Turner aims to end the week in style with two more winners from Finland and South Africa.

 

Off to Finland for our penultimate pick of the week, and KuPS line up at the Savon Sanumat Areena, to face VPS in the League Cup.

 

The hosts, managed by Esa Pekonen, enjoyed an impressive finish to last season - and are unbeaten in four of their last five on their own patch.

 

The Keltamusta came within a whisker of lifting silverware last campaign, ending the season as runners up in the Finnish Cup - and will be keen to stay in this competition for as long as possible, too.

 

Seven goals in their last five in front of their own fans suggests that the hosts have the necessary attacking quality to do well this season, and they will be desperate to kick it off with a bang here.

 

Visitors VPS travel to Kuopio in miserable form and haven't won a game in their last four - three losses and a draw making up that run.

 

Boss Olli Huttunen has seen his side win just twice from their last 11 away from the Hietalahti, and with his keeper Henri Sillanpaa on international duty with Finland in Thailand, he will need to call on his reserves for this clash.

 

It is 14 outings since the visitors kept a clean sheet, and those defensive weaknesses could prove to be their downfall this season, unless Huttunen can get the Vepsi rearguard playing with more solidarity.

 

KuPS have won the last two meetings between these sides, and I'm backing them to come out on top here too.

 

Bet 1: KuPS (HOME) @ 2.22

 

 

We're turning to slightly warmer climes now, as the African Cup of Nations hots up - and Nigeria will be desperate to stamp their authority on Group C in this clash with Zambia.

 

The Super Eagles were unlucky not to take three points from their opening fixture of the competition, their 1-0 lead over Burkina Faso lost in the 94th minute after they had Efe Ambrose dismissed.

 

A win in that game would have seen Stephen Keshi's side go to the summit of the group, and with all sides sitting on one point after the opening round of clashes, there could be some real movement this afternoon.

 

Nigeria go into this game looking to make it 10 consecutive games unbeaten, and 12 goals scored in their last five shows that, in the likes of Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses - who only made the bench for their last game due to injury but is fit for this - they are not short of quality options in the final third.

 

Zambia prepare for this clash in somewhat less inspiring form, and are currently on a miserable run which sees them half a dozen games without a win.

 

Hervé Renard's side have not even scored a goal in four of their last five, and that suggests that they may struggle to breach a Nigerian rearguard which has shipped just eight in nine outings.

 

The Chipolopolo have lost four of their last six encounters outside of their home country, and I think that they could fall short against a Super Eagles side brimming with quality.

 

Both these sides were pre-tournament favourites for qualification from the group stage, and the outcome of this encounter is likely to have a massive effect on Group C. Don't miss it!

 

Bet 2: Nigeria (AWAY) @ 2.24

 

Bet HERE

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