Mali vs South Africa prediction

Mali get their AFCON 2024 campaign underway with a tough opener against South Africa on Tuesday at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo. The Eagles of Mali, appearing for the 10th time in this tournament have been in fine form coming into it, losing just once in their last 10 matches across all competitions, and winning four of their last five. They have traditionally done well in this tournament

South Africa haven’t quite been as stellar coming into the tournament. They split a win and a loss in their World Cup qualifiers and they looked even less convincing in their pre-AFCON friendlies, including a drab 0-0 draw with unfancied Lesotho at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday. Bafana Bafana Coach Hugo Broos expressed some satisfaction with the team’s mentality in his post-match comments but there is little optimism from their fanbase that they could make a deep run here.

These two teams will be desperate to get off to a good start in this campaign. We expect a cagey game here with neither of these teams committing too much upfront. As a result, we are backing a game that is likely to have limited scoring opportunities either way. We are therefore going for Under 3.5 Goals as the main Mali vs South Africa prediction.

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Main tip: Under 3.5 Goals

Our Mali vs South Africa predictions

According to the statistics and the odds of the bookmakers, we suggest the following tips:

Prediction 1: Under 3.5 Goals

These teams have played 5 times before and all these games had no more than 3 total goals

Despite South Africa’s lack of consistency in terms of results lately, their defence has still been pretty solid. All their last 15 straight games have had fewer than 4 total goals.

Mali have also been relatively solid with 5 clean sheets in their last 10 overall games

We expect a close game here and we are backing this game to have no more than 3 total goals scored with competitive prices for this option offered at 1Win

Odds for this bet

1Win offers competitive odds for the bet “Under 3.5 Goals”

The odd of 1.15 means that the bookmakers are calculating with a likelihood of approx. 87% chance that this match will have no more than 3 total goals scored

Odds comparison for Under 3.5 Goals

1Win – odd 1.15
Betwinner – odd 1.13

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Prediction 2: 1st Goal Mali

Mali have been quick off the blocks in recent matches. They have scored the opener in 8 of their last 10 matches, including the last 5 straight games.

South Africa on their part have struggled to put the ball at the back of the net lately. They have fired blanks in 5 of their last 8 matches overall

We expect Mali to come out firing from all cylinders and we are backing the Eagles from Mali to score the opening goal of the game great odds for this option offered at Paripesa

Odds for this bet

Paripesa offers competitive odds for “1st Goal Mali”

The odd of 1.75 means that the bookmakers are calculating with a likelihood of approx. 57% chance that Mali will score the opening goal of this match

Odds comparisons 1st Goal Mali

Paripesa – odd 1.75
Bet365 – odd 1.70

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Prediction 3: 1st Half Draw

As expected, the opening half is likely to be very cagey with neither team ceding too much ground.

The defences for both teams are likely to be called to action early and they have both shown they are capable of keeping clean sheets.

Looking at these crucial facts, we are inclined to back the 1st half of this game to be a stalemate as our final Mali vs South Africa prediction for this match

Statistics for Mali vs South Africa Prediction

H2H statistics

These teams have 5 times before:

• Pretty close. South Africa have won twice, Mali once and they’ve drawn twice
• These matches have averaged 2.40 goals a game
• South Africa won the last meeting 2-1 in a friendly back in 2019

Latest results Mali

• Unbeaten in their last 5 matches with 4 wins and a draw
• 14 goals scored in these last 5 matches. Average of 2.80 goals per match
• Thrashed Guinea Bissau 6-2 in their last match

Latest results South Africa

• 1 win, 3 draws and a loss in their last 5 matches
• Just 3 goals scored in these last 5 matches. Average 0.60 goals per match
• Drew 0-0 with Lesotho in their last match

Possible squad Mali & South Africa

Line up	Mali	South Africa
Goalkeeper	Mounkoro	Williams
Defense	Traore. H, Sacko, Kouyate, Haidara	Mobbie, Xulu, Mvala, Maela
Midfield	Haidara. M, Bissouma, Traore, Traore. G	Mokoena, Kekana, Morena, Tau
Forward	Djenepo, Kone	Mayambela, Lepasa
Missing	None	None
Coach	Mohamed Magassouba	Hugo Broos

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