Cameroon v Egypt semi-final predictions: Special Salah can make the difference

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Cameroon v Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals on Thursday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & BBC3, 7pm Thursday

Best bet

Egypt to win in 90 minutes
1pt 10-3 bet365

Match preview

Seven-times Africa Cup of Nations winners Egypt are the most successful nation in the tournament's history and they can qualify for their tenth final by defeating hosts Cameroon in Yaounde.

Cameroon are no strangers to Afcon success either, having lifted the trophy on five occasions, most recently at Gabon 2017 where they defeated Egypt 2-1 in the final.

However, they had lost their previous four meetings against the Pharoahs and look short-priced favourites to win an evenly matched semi-final which could be decided by a mistake or a flash of brilliance.

The most likely player to produce a match-winning moment could be Egypt's talisman Mohamed Salah, who is having an increasing influence on the tournament.

The Liverpool man netted just once in the group stage, but he converted the decisive fifth penalty in the round of 16 shootout success against Ivory Coast and produced a goal and an assist to steer his team to an extra-time 2-1 triumph over Morocco in Sunday's tense quarter-final.

Egypt could not have had it much tougher in the knockout stages and they are more battle-hardened than Cameroon, who have had a much easier path to the last four.

Cameroon made hard work of beating Comoros 2-1 in the round of 16 and their 2-0 quarter-final victory over Gambia will have done little to prepare them for the steep rise in class which they are about to experience.

The Indomitable Lions are the tournament's top scorers (11 goals from five games) and will have the backing of the vast majority of supporters, but they have not faced an opponent of Egypt's quality and could fail the test.

The Club World Cup is getting under way in Abu Dhabi with UAE outfit Al Jazira expected to get off to a winning start against Tahitian minnows AS Pirae.

Al Jazira are 1-100 with bet365 to win the game inside normal time, while AS Pirae are 66-1 to spring a huge surprise.

Chelsea begin their campaign next Wednesday when they could face any one of three teams (Al Jazira, AS Pirae or Al Hilal).

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