Image: "Guinea fans" (CC BY 2.0) by Ben Sutherland
The sports we know and love can be affected by many things, and one of those is the weather. If it is severe enough, it can alter the outcome of a game, so it is always worth checking out the forecast.
In competitions like the African Nations, hot weather is a significant concern, while elsewhere in the world, cold weather, such as that we have seen in the NFL playoffs, is more of a worry. The weather can affect those betting on NFL, with one-time Super Bowl favorites, the Green Bay Packers, losing out in a snow game. The downfall affected their style of play and prevented quarterback Aaron Rodgers from showing what he is capable of.
In the past, we’ve seen the ‘Ice Bowl’ and the ‘Freezer Bowl’ take place. Luckily, the 2022 Super Bowl will be held in LA, so the weather shouldn’t be a problem. That will be a relief to those watching the game and following the NFL tips from Paddy Power. The latest odds as of February 3 offer -218 on a Los Angeles Rams win, putting them as a firm favorite to take the title.
Of course, the problems we have seen this year and in the past with the NFL have all been related to cold weather. For the AFCON competition, the problem was the complete opposite. High temperatures have negatively affected this competition so much that we have seen some favorites struggle to show what they are really capable of.
The Influence of Heat and a Home Advantage
We have seen heat play a part at the African Cup of Nations, affecting some teams more than others. One of the biggest ways in which this can influence the outcome of a contest is by giving the home team an advantage, or teams an advantage where players are used to playing in that environment.
Mali were knocked out of the competition on penalties by Equatorial Guinea in a game played in high heat. Mali struggled in the game, and looked to have little energy left for attacking and trying to create something, in a game that ended 0-0 after extra time, before needing penalties.
Many favorites at the African Nations have many players on their team who play in Europe. However, by playing in Europe, they avoid the extreme heat conditions we have seen in Cameroon. While they may be the best, the conditions do not help them at all. Prior to the competition, Cameroon declared themselves ready to host the competition, but of course, no one can predict the weather that will arrive.
We knew it would be hot, but perhaps not this hot, which has given them an advantage, as well as the teams who have many players that are experienced in these conditions. Whether hot in Africa or cold in parts of the USA, the weather can have an impact on games, and is certainly something for fans to consider when they are thinking about potential upsets and winners of the games they are watching.