Senegal v Algeria
Africa Cup of Nations Final – 8.00 pm
Eurosport
The competition has boiled down a battle between Senegal and Algeria on Friday for the Afcon 2019 title. Algeria are aiming to lift the crown for what will be the second time in their history. They have put together an undefeated streak of form this year, playing to W7 D3. Algeria have looked fairly comfortable through this competition. They won all three group stage games without conceding a goal . One of those group stage wins was a 1-0 success over Senegal. Their quarter-final tie against Ivory Coast was won by a penalty shoot-out, the only time they have really looked tested.
The Desert Foxes have conceded just one goal in their five matches in the competition so far. A last-minute wonder strike from Riyad Mahrez saw them beat Nigeria in the semis. Algeria are 19/20 To Lift The Trophy with leading bookmakers, which will appeal as one of the best bets of the day. Senegal were involved in a dramatic semi-final tie against Tunisia. They missed an open goal through Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, missed a spot-kick as well and survived a penalty attempt against them.
Senegal got a 1-0 win in extra-time thanks to a major flub by the Tunisian keeper. The Lions of Teranaga are through to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations Final so are within touching distance of their first crown. They have won eleven of their last twelve games, and have conceded just two goals in that sequence. However, that one defeat was against Algeria back in the group stage. Senegal are 8/5 to win in 90 minutes.
Gary Anderson v Danny Noppert
World Matchplay Darts – 9.00 pm
Sky Sports
The Flying Scotsman Gary Anderson is the reigning World Matchplay Champion. But this has been a testing year for him. He was having back problems early in the campaign which caused him to miss the Premier League season. After a long break he returned to take a spot at the UK Open in March and lost his first game. Then it was just early exit after exit on the PDC Pro Tour. But he rose to the top at the PDC World Cup of Darts in early June along with partner Peter Wright. Then Anderson built on that to make a run to the quarter-finals of the US Darts Masters. With a round of sixteen finish in Germany in his last event in July, there are signs he’s getting back to his best.
Anderson is at 8/11 to cover a -2.5 handicap in this one. Danny Noppert was the top qualifier to get through to join the big guns at the World Matchplay in Blackpool this season. Noppert joined the PDC from the BDO last year and so this will be his first attempt at the World Matchplay. So there’s no prior form to look at with him at this event. He did make a big splash at the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals in November last year. Can he take advantage of any potentially lingering back problems for the reigning champion? Noppert is 5/2 to land a major underdog victory.
Hull KR v Huddersfield
Super League Rugby – 7.45 pm
Sky Sports
Hull are still fighting for their Super League lives. So the pressure will be on when they step out on home soil on Friday night. Hull are just two points above the drop zone. However, they have been picking up wins recently though with three in their last five. Hull KR have alternated between a loss and a win in each of their last six league games. They have won their last two home games, taking victories over Warrington and Hull FC. So the fact that they are turning out on home soil at the KCom on Friday against another struggler could be a huge opportunity for them.
The Huddersfield Giants are sat level on points with Hull KR at the wrong end of the table. So they will be feeling the pressure, especially as they are not in the form that their opponents are in. The Giants have lost five of their last six games played. They did give themselves a huge lift in their last away game as they produced a thumping 36-18 wins over Salford. A positive for the Giants is that they beat Hull KR in points output this season. While there isn’t much between them defensively, the Giants are -93 in points difference for the season, way better than Hull KR’s -182. The Giants are 6/4 underdogs against the favouritism of Hull KR at 4/7.
