Can South Africa edge Namibia in AFCON Group D play?
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South Africa and Namibia will clash in Africa Cup of Nations Group D on Thursday in Cairo. Both nations go into their second match of the Africa Cup of Nations 2019 having lost their first games of the tournament.
The South Africans fell 1-0 to the Ivory Coast in their first game of the competition. Manager Stuart Baxter will rue the team’s missed opportunities. South Africa kept 56% of the possession, yet managed just two shots with zero landing on target.
Namibia also fell 1-0 in their game to Morocco. The Brave Warriors, playing in just their third Africa Cup of Nations tournament, were defeated thanks to an 89th minute own goal.
Manager Ricardo Mannetti’s team played defensively against Morocco claiming just 32% possession. Namibia tallied just three shots with zero landing on target.
Neither South Africa nor Namibia showed much excitement in the final third in their opening matches and Thursday’s Group D game may see under 2.5 goals scored.
South Africa and Namibia have played just nine times in their histories. All nine meetings between the two nations have come in the last 21 years. South Africa have posted an impressive 6W-1D-2L record against Namibia in their nine all-time meetings.
Baxter’s Bafana Bafana are undefeated in their last six matches against Namibia. Three of their six games ended in South Africa wins to nil against Namibia. Five of South Africa’s and Namibia’s nine all-time meetings have seen under 2.5 goals scored.
A large number of both squads play their club football in South Africa. The two sides should be quite familiar with each other when they take the pitch.
The four best third-place teams can qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations knockout round. A victory on Thursday would improve one of the two team’s chances of progression.
It is unlikely either will challenge for the top two spots in Group D. The Ivory Coast and Morocco are far too strong to lose out to either Namibia or South Africa.
If South Africa are to get the win against Namibia, which they should, their goal(s) could come through Union Saint-Gilloise striker Percy Tau. The striker has tallied nine international goals.
Overall, both South Africa and Namibia are low on quality. The two nations are unlikely to go deep into the competition even if one progresses as one of the best third-place teams.
Thursday’s fixture should see another South Africa victory and continue the low-scoring matches between the two nations. Expect a South Africa win and under 2.5 goals scored.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
Acn
513514
1
1 - 0
1.50
23°
1.65
1.65
3.75
5.50
1
-1
-1
1 - 0(0 - 0)
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