The South Africa vs Tunisia AFCON Cup match on Wednesday, 24 Jan, was an interesting game with a lot of expectations from both nations.
South Africa beat Namibia in the last round of games, but they have a new task if they want to qualify for the next round of the Afcon competition.
Bafana Bafana are currently 2nd in the group standings, while the struggling Tunisia is last in the group with just 1 point.
This makes the game super challenging for both teams, as their qualifying hopes will also be relying on the other game between Namibia and Mali.
So this article is going to cover everything about the game for South Africa vs Tunisia, including live scores, line-ups, predictions, as well as pre-game overviews and post-game reporting.
Pre-game Overview
Bafana Bafana, under the watchful eye of coach Hugo Broos, roared back after their opening-day hiccup against Mali. Their emphatic 4-0 thrashing of Namibia reignited the flames of hope, proving their attacking prowess. Their triumphant win has given South Africa’s fans renewed faith in their team and its abilities.
Fuelling Bafana Bafana’s fire is the midfield maestro Percy Tau, whose vision and passing orchestrated the Namibian rout. Up front, keep your eyes peeled for Themba Zwane, whose pace and trickery terrorize defenses. Zwane’s recent resurgence has been a welcome boost as he has continued to bang in goals for the South African team. This new form has given a chance to South Africa to progress into the Round of 16 of this tournament, a sentiment that seems possible to turn into a reality.
The pressure cooker is on for Tunisia, with coach Jalel Kadri’s Carthage Eagles facing a do-or-die battle. A single point from their opening two games has them perched precariously at the bottom of the group, staring down elimination.
Tunisia’s talisman, Youssef Msakni, carries the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. His mesmerizing footwork and eye for goal make him a constant threat. In defense, the towering presence of Dylan Bronn provides a reassuring shield, his aerial prowess and calmness under pressure invaluable assets.
Live Scores
Head to Head (H2H)
Head to head, this game will be truly unpredictable, since the last time both nations faced off was in 2008, when Tunisia won the game by 3 to 1 score.
However, in this year’s AFCON cup competition, Tunisia seems to be struggling a bit as they haven’t registered a win in the last 2 group matches. They only managed to get 1 goal in the campaign, against Mali in their second game of this AFCON cup tournament, in a game that resulted in a draw. South African fans will hold on to hope that this dry spell will last longer when they face off against each other tomorrow night.
Football has no guarantees because Bafana lost their first game, but bounced back against Namibia to take the 2nd spot in the group.
South Africa vs Tunisia Predictions
With both teams desperate for points, expect a cagey affair in the opening exchanges. South Africa, buoyed by home support and their newfound attacking rhythm, might edge the possession battle. Tunisia, however, will be a wounded lion, lurking for a counter-punching opportunity. Ultimately, I predict a tight 1-0 victory for South Africa, with Zwane’s pace proving the difference.
However, as mentioned before, football is a game of glorious unpredictability. A moment of magic from Msakni, a defensive lapse from Bafana Bafana, or a stroke of luck could swing the pendulum the other way. One thing’s for sure: this clash promises to be a heart-stopping spectacle, a true test of resilience and tactical nous. So, grab your popcorn, settle in, and brace yourselves for an AFCON showdown you won’t forget!