AFCON 2023 – Africa’s Footballing & Betting Extravaganza

As the final games of the AFCON 2023 group stages kick off this week, it’s probably a good time to take stock of exactly what’s going down at the continental showpiece both on the sporting and the betting front.

The Sporting Spectacle

There have been a slew of shock results since the Africa Cup of Nations kicked off on Saturday 13 January. All three games on the second day of the competition dished up surprise outcomes of varying degrees. Equatorial Guinea held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw, while Egypt needed a 97th-minute penalty from Mo Salah to nab a 2-2 draw against Mozambique. Damage control as both favourites escaped with a point.

Then came the first major shock as Ghana – for so long an absolute powerhouse of African football – was sunk by a Cape Verde outfit in which no two members of the squad play for the same club. Unexpected results have continued to arrive, with Namibia beating Tunisia 1-0, Angola holding Algeria to a 1-1 draw and DR Congo going toe-to-toe with Morocco to earn a draw.

This set of results has teed up a grandstand end to the group stages. Only three teams out of the 24 have no realistic hopes of qualifying for the round of 16 while a further two have guaranteed progression. Remember, the top two sides in each group qualify automatically, while the four best third-placed teams will also go through. The permutations are almost endless, so break out the Excel docs and calculators.

Bafana’s Job: Avoid Defeat at All Costs

So what do Bafana have to do in order to qualify for the round of 16? Simple, beat the third-highest-ranked team on the continent. That’s easier said than done against ranked 28th in the world. South Africa finds themselves 38 places lower in 66th, bookended by North Macedonia and DR Congo. South Africa will still likely qualify if they earn a draw.

Namibia aren’t expected to beat Mali. If they do so, and Bafana draw with Tunisia, Namibia will top the group, with Bafana tied on four points with Mali. This would likely see SA qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Tunisia are the cellar-dwellers and need a win to ensure they give themselves a chance of qualifying. Therein lies the danger for South Africa. Tunisia is a world-class outfit that has underperformed dreadfully at AFCON 2023.

If the North Africans hit their straps and Bafana turn out another insipid performance like the one we had to endure in the second half of their tournament opener against Mali, it could be tickets for Broos. But if South Africa are at their dynamic best and can dictate play by pulling the Tunisian midfield and defence around the park, we could see South Africa’s first AFCON win against Tunisia since Gavin Barker’s side beat the Eagles of Carthage in 1996’s final.

Hugo Broos’ charges will certainly take confidence from their 4-0 demolition of neighbouring Namibia. The result was particularly pleasing considering Bafana’s recent woes in front of goal. In fact, you have to go way back to September 2022 for the last time Bafana found the back of the net four times – a 4-0 win over Sierra Leone at the FNB Stadium.

The Betting Extravaganza

Yes, there have been plenty of upset results at AFCON 2023. However, these upsets can create value of punters later down the line. For example, Ghana – who have admittedly been underwhelming at the tournament – can/could be had for 7/10 against Mozambique.

Cameroon can be had at 6/10 to beat the already-eliminated Gambia while (and look away now Bafana fans) Tunisia are at 12/10 to beat South Africa.

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Source: Briefly News