AFCON - Semi Final Tips
The Africa Cup of Nations has reached the semi-final stage and both last-four encounters take place on Wednesday, with Nigeria taking on South Africa and hosts Ivory Coast facing DR Congo.
Ivory Coast have lived a charmed life to reach the semis but they will still fancy their chances of reaching the final for the first time since 2015, when they overcame Ghana 9-8 on penalties.
Before the host nation are in action, Nigeria tackle South Africa and this could be a low-scoring affair between two sides that have conceded just three goals between them at this tournament.
Tip 1 - Nigeria to win to nil @ 26/25
Although possessing a wealth of attacking talent, Nigeria's path to the semi-finals has been built on strong defensive performances with four of their five victories coming to nil.
The only goal the Super Eagles have conceded at AFCON came in their opening Group A match, a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, and they will be confident of keeping another clean sheet against South Africa.
Bafana Bafana have failed to score in three of their five fixtures and required penalties to edge past Cape Verde in the last round, after being held to a 0-0 after extra time.
Nigeria have lost just one of the last nine meetings against South Africa, keeping clean sheets in five of those, and Jose Peseiro's side can book their place in the final for the first time since 2013 by shutting out their opponents.
Tip 2 - Ivory Coast v DR Congo - Draw @ 19/10
The second semi-final will see tournament hosts Ivory Coast take on DR Congo, who are aiming to lift the trophy for the third time after victories in 1968 (as Congo-Kinshasa) and 1974 (as Zaire).
It is quite the story that Ivory Coast have managed to make it this far, as they lost two of their three group games and only progressed as the fourth-best third-placed team.
Jean-Louis Gasset was sacked after their final group match, a heavy 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, with Emerse Fae being placed in temporary charge.
Fae has since guided the Elephants past Senegal (on penalties) and Mali to set up a last-four encounter against DR Congo, who dispatched Egypt and Guinea in the last two rounds.
DR Congo have proven a tough nut to crack, having drawn four of their five matches, and they are likely to adopt a defensive approach in this clash at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.
Ivory Coast are not playing with the confidence and flair that was expected of them ahead of this tournament on home soil and given what is on the line on Wednesday, another tight, nervous affair could be on the cards.
It would be no surprise to see this end all-square after 90 minutes, forcing the two teams to battle it out in extra-time and then the potential lottery of a penalty shootout.