THE PREDICTOR: AFCON, Euros, Copa and Women WC

With club competitions done and dusted for the season, focus shifts to tournaments and qualifiers. The Fifa U20 World Cup is down to quarter finals but there is little or no coverage at all. Even continental pay TV giants DStv are not telecasting the games. The same story is for the Fifa Women’s World Cup finals in Canada that is still in group stages. However, we have Copa America finals to thank as America’s biggest talents will be vying to dethrone Uruguay. Lionel Messi is leading Argentina, Neymar is leading Brazil, Falcao leads Colombia but Uruguay are spineless as their inspirational forward Luis Suarez is suspended over the World Cup biting incident. In qualifiers, the race for Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations rolled off yesterday, with games continuing through the weekend. In Europe, the battle for a place in France 2016 is hotting with a number of crucial ties this weekend. Let’s try to break the major games down and see who is winning. AFCON Mozambique 1-1 Rwanda Amavubi Stars have been playing backwards since Coach Constantine left the national side. The results have been hard to comeby, but when they face Mozambique, it will be a duel. Joao Chissano’s side are ranked 81st in the worldm 13 places better than Rwanda, who dipped 21 places in the June Fifa ranking. This should be a cracker, but Rwanda have no reason to lose this game. A win is on the cards, but at worst, a draw. Uganda 2-2 botswana Another side with so much going wrong is Uganda. Bostwana have a big shout for a win even before kick-off if they can take the game to Uganda Cranes at Namboole Stadium today. Under former Amavubi coach Micho, Uganda started brightly but have since been on the wrong end of the pitch. Their 1-1 draw at home to Gambia last weekend underlined the scrappy developments in the Cranes. Congo 3-2 Kenya Victor Wamanya is the squad and Bobby Williamson is a man of tactical nous, but Congo Brazzaville are not minnows. The Red Devils, managed by Claude le Roy, were quarter-finalists at the Nations Cup in February where they were eliminated by DR Congo. Le Roy had taken over months to the finals, but now that he has had time, he probably will have a side too good for Bobby Williamson to handle. Egypt 6-1 Tanzania Record African champions Egypt have not been in the last three tournaments but make no mistake: they are still one of Africa’s top sides. It gets worse that whenever Egypt meets a side from East Africa, the Pharaohs execute the mastery of the game to such a level that they leave their opponents dazed. Taifa Stars, who are struggling for form, are in for a sound beating in Alexandria. Togo 2-1 Liberia Liberia used to be a top side. Back then, George Weah wore the national jersey. He was a World Footballer of the Year too. Now they are anything but a footballing minnow. But Togo are struggling. Skipper Emmanuel Adebayor has returned his family woes to the Togolese side and Liberia should pull off a shocker but... Togo to win. FIFA WOMEN”S WC Japan 3-1 Cameroon Granted, Cameroon are good, but Japan are immense. The reigning world champions are play an absorbing game and should cause Cameroon trouble in the final third. USA 1-1 Sweden Group of Death clatch between two giants in USA and Sweden should provide for thrills. Both sides are fighting to recapture lost glory. Looks like a draw. COPA America Argentina 3-0 Paraguay There were times not long ago when this fixture would have been a cracker. Not anymore. Paraguay failed to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil and the current Argentina led by Messi is just too good for them. Brazil 5-2 Peru This should be another walkover fixture as Dunga’s rejuvenated side take on a Peruvian side that can only look to the past and wonder what went wrong with its talent development. Colombia 3-2 Venezuela Radamel Falcao has showed that his Manchester United form are not down to his dip, but something inexplicable about Old Trafford. Leading his country, he looks trouble-free with each game. With James Rodriquez doing the play-making, this should be an exciting fixture. Euro 2016 qualifier Russia 1-2 Austria Unbeaten group leaders Austria are having a rare push for the finals. With 13 points from the first round, they are four clear of Sweden in second place and their host are another five points further down. A win will virtually put Austria in France as one of the two automatic group sides to qualify. But can they fail in Moscow? Russia can only fluff a draw. Sweden 3-0 Montenegro Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s side will hope that Austria can dust Russia so that this fixture only favours Montenegro. A win for Austria and Sweden will mean Russia will turn focus on finishing third.

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THE PREDICTOR: AFCON, Euros, Copa and Women WC