Weekend Winning AFCON, FA Cup & 6 Nations Bets

Who won the African Cup of Nations?

Senegal won the AFCON after a penalty shootout against Egypt followed a 0-0 stalemate. Sadio Mane took the bragging rights against his Liverpool teammate Mo Salah, who didn’t even get to take a spot kick. Mane scored the winning kick for Senegal, despite having missed one after just 4 minutes of the final in yet another goalless draw in this tournament. He was also named player of the tournament after sealing the 4-2 penalties win.

Match Performance (settled at 24)

There have been a succession of tight matches in this tournament and the final was no different, with sellers proving the biggest winners in nearly every market. There was no goals and only three corners in this cagey encounter, though at least there was six bookings and a penalty award to boost the total a bit. The Match Performance spread was set at 74-79, but with no goals and the -25 for a goalless draw, the make-up was only 24, meaning sellers won 50 times their stake.

What happened in the weekend’s FA Cup 4^th Round games?

The magic of the FA Cup was alive and kicking this weekend, as Middlesbrough went to Old Trafford and knocked out Manchester United, National League Boreham Wood won at Bournemouth and Chelsea and West Ham were taken to extra time by Plymouth and Kidderminster Harriers respectively. But the biggest shock was the way holders Leicester gave up their crown of FA Cup holders with a whimper at Championship side Nottingham Forest yesterday, the Foxes getting a 4-1 chasing. Forest sped into a 3-0 lead just after the half hour, and while Leicester got one back five minutes before the break, Djed Spence raced through to restore the three-goal cushion.

Nottingham Forest Goal Rush (settled at 50)

This market awards points depending how many goals the named team scores. One Forest goal makes 10 points, two goals makes 20 points, three is 33 and four 50. The spread was set at 9-12, meaning Forest were expected to score one goal; in reality they knocked four past a shell-shocked Leicester side hoping to repeat last year’s success. Buyers of Forest’s Goal Rush won 38 times their bet.

What happened on the opening weekend of rugby’s Six Nations Championship?

The Six Nations got underway with a bang, with Scotland leaving it late before claiming a second successive victory against England for the first time since 1984, and Ireland smashing champions Wales by a 22-point margin that if anything flattered the champs. England looks in control of their game until Eddie Jones controversially decided to withdraw young fly half Marcus Smith, who was running the game. Smith scored all 17 of England’s points and left the pitch with his side 17-10 ahead, but a penalty try and late Finn Russell penalty consigned England to their 4^th defeat in 6 Six Nations games. Andrew Conway (2), Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose scored the tries to give an impressive Ireland a 29-7 win against a below par Wales. Yesterday France beat Italy 37-10.

Ireland v Wales: Match Multi-Points (settled at 260)

This market is made up of first half points multiplied at second half points, with the spread set at 416-456. While Ireland impressed in every department, Wales were a long way from their best, something the shrewd sellers we saw may well have been expecting. Indeed, the defending champions were held scoreless in the opening half, which finished 10-0 to the hosts, and while there was more scoring in the second half, which Ireland won 19-7, the result was never in question. Sellers didn’t mind though, with a profit of 156 times their bet.