South Africa and Liberia played their AFCON 2023 qualifier first leg match at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Friday, the 24th of March 2023.
The first-ever head-to-head clash between the two nations which ended in a 2-all draw. Liberia is currently sitting in second place on goal difference, while Bafana Bafana third position in the group stage log.
We’re expecting a tougher encounter in their upcoming second leg match in Liberia, on Tuesday 28th March 2023.
Match Preview
South Africa went into the first-leg game in good form, having won in most of their last games. Their last winning game was a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe in a friendly match, which gave them a good boost ahead of this game.
On the other hand, Liberia struggled for form at the moment until the first-leg game against South Africa, when they came from 2-nil to share the points with Bafana. They have won just one of their last nine games, and only scored in three of these games.
We’re expecting a fast game on the 28th March, with both teams holding equal points in the log only separated by goal differences. Both these nations have an equal opportunity to qualify for the next AFCON competitions.
South Africa to Win?
South Africa was expected to win the first leg, with more odds on their side however Liberia showed character against all odds to manage a point and two goals away from home. They have won three of their last six matches, with two games ending in a draw. In those six encounters, South Africa scored eleven goals.
In terms of team news, South Africa head coach, Hugo Broos was furious after his 23-man squad dropped the ball after leading Liberia 2-nil, only for the game to end in a draw.
South Africa has a great squad, with big names playing in PSL and international leagues. They have great football in the last game but need to fix their mistakes and not taking their obvious scoring chances.
Football is an unpredictable game, and anything can happen on match-day. However, Bafana seemed more stronger in the game, they dominated most of the positions and tempo of the last encounter with Liberia.
South Africa vs Liberia Betting Tips
For those who want to place a bet on this game, there are several markets to consider. The most popular market is the match-winner market, where South Africa is the favourite.
While it’s also not easy playing away from home, the worst expected results for this game should be a draw because both nations must win the next game on next week Tuesday.
However, if you are looking for better odds, you can consider the correct score market or the over/under market.
In the correct score market, a 2-0 win for South Africa is currently priced at 5.50, while a 3-1 win for South Africa is priced at 13.00. In the over/under market, the over 2.5 goals market is currently priced at 2.20, while the under 2.5 goals market is priced at 1.61.
In summary, South Africa is the clear favourite to win this game, based on current form and the head-to-head record. However, football is an unpredictable game, and anything can happen on the day. For those who want to place a bet, the match-winner market is the safest option, but there are several other markets to consider for better odds.