The last four Round of 16 qualifiers are about to be decided in Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday, as the pool phase comes to a climax at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mali have the edge in Group E ahead of their encounter with Namibia, while South Africa go into their match against Tunisia knowing a point will almost certainly be enough to take them through to the knockouts.
Morocco need to avoid defeat to Zambia to guarantee safe progression from Group F, with DR Congo and Tanzania scrapping it out to stay in the mix for the next phase.
Afcon predictions and fixtures for 24 January
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
South Africa v Tunisia
| Result prediction | South Africa to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | South Africa / South Africa to win |
| Team to Score prediction | South Africa |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | T. Zwane(South Africa) P. Tau(South Africa) |
Namibia v Mali
| Result prediction | Namibia to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Namibia to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Tanzania v Congo DR
| 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 |
Zambia v Morocco
| Result prediction | draw |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / draw |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | P. Daka(Zambia) A. Hakimi(Morocco) |
Group E: Namibia vs Mali – 19.00
Mali have qualification for the Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations in their own hands as they go into their final Group E fixture against Namibia on Wednesday.
A four-point haul puts them top of the pool, with their comfortable opening win over South Africa backed up by a draw with Tunisia in Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday.
Lassine Sinayoko thumped in an early opener but Eric Chelle’s men were soon pegged back.
The Namibians went from heroes to zeroes when they were thrashed 4-0 by local rivals South Africa on Sunday night.
It was a far cry from their Afcon opener, when they sneaked a shock victory over Tunisia – a result that still keeps them in the hunt for a place in the knockout phase.
Group E: South Africa vs Tunisia – 19.00
South Africa have the wind in their sails going into their Group E decider against Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.
Themba Zwane scored twice after Percy Tau redeemed himself from the penalty spot on Sunday evening, with Thapelo Maseko adding the gloss after the break in a 4-0 thumping over rivals Namibia.
It was exactly what Bafana Bafana required following their flat opening loss to Mali.
The Tunisians need to feed off that inspiration to stand any chance of staying in the competition beyond this week.
A single point from their first two pool matches means only a win will do for the Carthage Eagles, as the north Africans scramble to keep themselves in the Afcon mix.
Group F: Tanzania vs DR Congo – 22.00
It’s wide open in Group F on Wednesday night, as the final Round of 16 participants are decided at the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, with Tanzania and DR Congo in the thick of it.
A positive result for either nation should guarantee their progression in Cote d’Ivoire.
That’s despite neither having claimed a victory so far, although both have positives to take from their opening two matches in a tricky pool.
Katompa Mvumpa rescued a point for the Leopards against 2022 Fifa World Cup semi-finalists Morocco.
It means the Congolese are level on points and on goal difference with Zambia as the qualification battle hots up in west Africa.
Minnows Tanzania have thrown the kitchen sink at their bid to stun the continent by making it through.
That wasn’t all they hurled at the Moroccans in the opening match, either, with tackles flying in on the tournament favourites, before they looked for all the world like hanging on in game two only to concede late on against Zambia.
But don’t count them out on an enthralling final evening of group action.
Group F: Zambia vs Morocco – 22.00
Morocco have one foot in the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations, but come into Wednesday’s Group F climax against Zambia knowing there’s still work to do.
The Atlas Lions have four points from six and will likely top the pool if they can secure a point here.
Achraf Hakimi looked to have earned a maximum points haul with his early goal against DR Congo on Sunday, only for a second half equalizer to leave them needing just that little bit more effort to be sure of qualification.
Zambia need to better the result of the Congolese against Tanzania, which is easier said than done against the Fifa World Cup semi-finalists from Qatar little more than a year ago.
A pair of draws so far may feel a touch underwhelming for the former Afcon champions.
But Patson Daka’s 88th-minute header for his ten-man side against the Tanzanians last time out may prove just the momentum shift they need to get over the line in Cote d’Ivoire.