Egypt vs Ghana prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for AFCON 2024 group stage match

Egypt and Ghana both hope to put disappointing opening match results behind them as they meet in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations group stage.

The Pharaohs needed a late breath of life from Mohamed Salah as the Liverpool star dispatched a 96th minute penalty to snatch a draw with Mozambique in their first match of the competition.

Ghana, meanwhile, fell to Cape Verde to begin group stage play, as the Black Stars continued a troubling downward spiral from their former mantle as one of Africa's most consistent sides.

Both nations know that defeat here, or even a draw, could spell doom as they look to avoid falling too far behind in the Group B standings with just one match still to come.

LIVE: Follow Egypt vs Ghana in AFCON 2024 action

Egypt vs Ghana prediction, odds

• Moneyline lean: Egypt (+110)
• Score prediction: Egypt 3-1 Ghana

While Egypt needed a late rescue from Mohamed Salah in their opener, they have shown a greater desire to get forward than AFCON 2021, where their rancid resentment of attacking football left a mark on global viewers. Against a Ghana side that is in a true downward spiral, Salah should continue to lift the Pharaohs in the final third and put them in control of the group heading into the final match.

Goals are always hard to come by in AFCON, and high-scoring matches don't often show their face, but after a 2021 tournament which averaged a hideous 1.95 goals per match, there's already been plenty of goals in the early stages of the tournament, a sign that fans will enjoy the remainder of the group stage far more than previous editions.

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Egypt vs Ghana match facts

• Date: Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024
• Kickoff time: 8 p.m. local (3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT)
• Location: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium (Abidjan, Ivory Coast)
• Last meeting: Ghana 1-1 Egypt (Nov. 12, 2017 | World Cup qualification)

Egypt vs Ghana best bet

• Pick: Egypt over 1.5 goals
• Odds: +165 (DraftKings)

It's time to pivot faster than the market. Egypt look like a team that's shed its defensive reliance in the opening match against Mozambique, and despite the adverse result, the Pharaohs have proven they can put more weight on Mohamed Salah's shoulders.

While the betting market still expects Egypt to remain incredibly defensive as they did throughout the 2021 AFCON tournament, they should be able to find goals against a Ghana side which conceded twice to Cape Verde on a whopping 15 shots in their opener, with the Blue Sharks missing an additional three official "big chances" in their victory.

Egypt vs Ghana prop bet

• Pick: Mohamed Salah anytime goal scorer
• Odds: +140 (DraftKings)

• Pick: Mostafa Mohamed anytime goal scorer
• Odds: +260 (DraftKings)

• Pick: Mohamed Salah anytime assist
• Odds: +450 (FanDuel)

Clearly, we're all in on Egypt putting forth a positive attacking effort in this match, taking advantage of the market's expectation of a defensive struggle. While Egypt have shown an improved attacking intent from the last time they were on this stage, this is just as much about Ghana's defensive frailties as well.

In a friendly back in October, the U.S. managed to pick this Ghana defense apart, putting eight of their 13 shots on frame in a comprehensive 4-0 victory. Just days before that, an out-of-form Mexico side managed to bag a pair of goals against Ghana, and while their 12 shots and four on target don't scream attacking fervor, it was clear even a struggling El Tri side knew how to locate the Black Stars' weak points.

For Egypt, there are two main players in front of goal — Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed. Both players scored in the opening round win over Mozambique, while Salah also assisted Mohamed's goal, but it goes beyond just that match. In the last four matches for Egypt, the pair have combined for an incredible seven goals and six assists between them, and both are in good club form as well. Any of these three plays should be profitable, while combining them would be even better.

Egypt vs Ghana live stream, TV channel

beIN Sports has the broadcast rights to the entirety of the 2023 African Cup of Nations in both the United States and Canada. They will broadcast the matches in both English and Spanish, with both beIN Sports and beIN Sports en Espanol available to stream on Fubo USA and Fubo Canada.

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Sky Sports has acquired the broadcast rights to the African Cup of Nations in the UK, and will put games on Sky Sports Mix, with streaming available on Sky Go.