With the Africa Cup of Nations 2010 heading towards the quarter-final knockout stages, it’s looking more certain that the eventual winners of the tournament will come from either Egypt, Ivory Coast or Algeria. With the Ivory Coast on a collision course with Algeria in the quarter finals. Cameroon and Nigeria could become stronger as the competition progresses, but looking at their opening performances, both teams lack any real evidence that their names are destined to be etched on the trophy come the final game.

Egypt, on the other hand, look impressive. The Pharaohs stuffed Nigeria 3-1 in their opening match then secured their quarter-final slot by winning 1-0 against a stubborn Mozambique team. Both these wins now stretch Egypt’s unbeaten run in the Africa Cup to 15 games, they were last beaten back in 2004. On this evidence, it is hard to see past the current champions as this years eventual winners.

Their is no doubt that the Ivory Coast team are talented individuals, but sometimes, as in the past, their team performances suffer from a lack of belief in themselves, which has seen them tagged as being as the tournaments underachievers. Their opening game 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso looked as though the Ivorians were about to dissapoint once again. However, a sterling performance against Ghana, sealed a 3-1 win for the Ivory Coast and a place in the quarter-finals, most likely against Algeria.

African Nations Cup Betting Odds 2010

Ivory Coast	7/4	15/8	7/4	19/10	15/8	9/5	15/8	15/8	9/5
Egypt	7/2	7/2	3	371/100	11/4	3	7/2	3	7/2
Cameroon	9/2	6	11/2	36/5	6	6	6	11/2	5
Ghana	7	8	8	9	9	8	8	7	9
Angola	9	9	10	19/2	9	10	15/2	8	8
Nigeria	10	9	10	21/2	9	10	10	10	8
Algeria	16	16	14	19	16	16	14	14	16
Gabon	20	25	25	28	25	25	25	25	22
Tunisia	33	33	33	61	40	60	33	33	33
Burkina Faso	50	40	66	80	40	100	66	66	66
Zambia	80	100	80	80	100	100	80	66	66
Benin	125	200	200	503	100	200	200	200	150
Mozambique	200	300	250	294	250	300	250	250	200