The delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations continues on Tuesday with three more fixtures across Cote d’Ivoire.
An intriguing Group E sees serial underachievers South Africa kick off their Afcon campaign against Mali, after Tunisia begin their latest title push with a match against Namibia.
Those two fixtures follow the conclusion to the first round of Group D action, as Burkina Faso meet Mauritania.
Afcon predictions and fixtures for 16 January
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
Group D: Burkina Faso vs Mauritania – 16.00
Burkina Faso meat Mauritania in their Africa Cup of Nations Group D opener on Tuesday knowing the pool is wide open for at least one of them to reach the knockout stages in Cote d’Ivoire.
It adds a layer of jeopardy to their opener, as they jostle for progress alongside Algeria and Angola.
The Burkinabe topped Group B of qualifying in a competitive pool, just ahead of runners-up Cape Verde and Togo.
It gave the Stallions a chance to realise their dream of matching their heroic run to the final of the 2013 edition, while they also recorded a third-placed finish four years later.
Mauritania knocked out Gabon and Sudan in qualifying from Group I alongside DR Congo.
They made their Afcon debut in 2019 and also made it through to the Cameroon tournament two years ago, making this their third competition on the spin.
Group E: Tunisia vs Namibia – 19.00
Tunisia begin yet another Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday, seeking to crack the code that saw them lift their only continental title in 2004.
Namibia are the first opponents for the Carthage Eagles, who have often flattered to deceive in the two decades since that triumph.
They’ve managed group stage appearances at a trio of Fifa World Cups since then, including the last two in Russia and Qatar.
Add their pre-tournament Fifa world ranking of 28 plus the presence of star player Ellyes Skhiri and you might wonder what’s taking them so long.
It’s a kind start against a Namibian outfit that qualified for a fourth Afcon appearance despite winning just one qualifying match.
They did so partly due to the disqualification of Kenya, with a draw against big guns Cameroon enough to see the Brave Warriors pip Burundi to the post.
Group E: Mali vs South Africa – 22.00
South Africa and Mali contest a tasty Group E fixture on Tuesday night at the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
In what feels like a three-way fight for knockout qualification, Bafana Bafana will rely on the craft and guile of Belgian coach Hugo Broos, who became an Afcon winner at the helm of Cameroon in 2017.
The 1996 champions came through Group K of qualifying comfortably, runners-up to Morocco with Liberia and disqualified Zimbabwe nowhere in sight.
Mali won five from six to qualify from Group G, rattling in 15 goals in the process to see off the challenge of Gambia, Congo and South Sudan.
They’ve been trying for generations to better their maiden Afcon effort, a runners-up finish in the eight-nation, 1972 competition.
Afcon Predictions for Tuesday 16 January
Burkina Faso v Mauritania
| Result prediction | Burkina Faso to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Burkina Faso / Burkina Faso to win |
| Team to Score prediction | Burkina Faso |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Tunisia v Namibia
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Mali v South Africa
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | South Africa / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | P. Tau(South Africa) |