On Saturday, the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium will host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations third-place playoff between South Africa and Congo DR.
The Leopards lost to tournament hosts Ivory Coast in the semi-finals, while Bafana Bafana lost to Nigeria on penalties despite a respectable performance.
| Top 3 markets | Best odds at bookmakers |
| South Africa win or draw: ⚽ | 1.65 at Bet9ja |
| Under 2.5 goals: 🥅 | 1.7 at 1xbet |
| 3rd Place In The Tournament: ✅ | 2.16 at Paripesa |
South Africa and Congo DR: Previous Games
After a thrilling 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in regular time, South Africa progressed to the semi-finals. Hugo Broos’ team won the penalty shootout 2-1. Mamelodi Sundowns skipper Ronwen Williams saved four penalty kicks to advance South Africa to the semi-finals. FIFA goalkeepers have never saved four penalties before. Mali beat Bafana Bafana 2-0 in their opening encounter. With a 4-0 victory against Namibia and a 0-0 draw with Tunisia, they finished second in the Group. Before defeating tournament favourites Morocco 2-0 in Round 16, following a 1-1 draw in standard time, the Super Eagles defeated South Africa on penalties in the last four following Williams’ quarterfinal heroics. Although Bafana Bafana is undefeated against this opponent in their past two matches, bookies have them as underdogs.
DR Congo reached the quarterfinals without winning a match in their first four encounters. Their A.F.C.O.N. campaign began with draws against Zambia and DR Congo before a tie with Tanzania in the last group-stage encounter. That placed them second in Group F behind Morocco and sent them to the Round of 16 against Egypt. Leopards tied 1-1 again but beat Pharaohs on penalties against the odds. On Wednesday night, DR Congo lost 1-0 to host country Ivory Coast after overcoming Guinea 3-1 in the final eight. With that, the Leopards have won two of their previous 13 regulation-time matches in all competitions, drawn seven, and lost four.
Probable South Africa Lineup
Williams; Mudau, Xulu, Mvala, Modiba; Mokoena, Sithole; Morena, Zwane, Tau; Makgopa
Probable Congo DR Lineup
M’Pasi; Kalulu, Mbemba, Inonga, Masuaku; Pickel, Moutoussamy; Elia, Bongonda, Wissa; Bakambu
Betting tips: South Africa x Congo DR
Check out our predictions of the day for South Africa vs. Congo DR
Prediction 1: South Africa x Congo DR / South Africa win or draw
The last time South Africa played, they showed some of their potential. They showed far more courage when they had the ball and often found ways to breach the Nigerian defence.
The 1996 winners should have taken a commanding lead at halftime and been able to defeat the Super Eagles if they had been more clinical.
After a 1-0 victory against DR Congo in September last year, Broos’s Bafana Bafana faced DR Congo again.
Out of their previous five head-to-head matches, the Leopards’ sole victory was in 2004. It’s reasonable to assume that both countries have evolved much since then.
South Africa seems likelier to win Friday night’s match than they did in their 2000 group-stage encounter.
Prediction 2: South Africa x Congo DR / Under 2.5 goals
Goalscoring is often low in Africa Cup of Nations matches. Once again, the economy of goals was displayed in the continent’s most giant spectacle when the Ivory Coast defeated DR Congo with a single goal.
Only two of the past ten meetings between the two countries have scored more than two goals during regular time. Except for a 2005 World Cup qualifier that ended in a draw, three of South Africa and DR Congo’s past five meetings have ended in a 1-0 score.
Prediction 3: South Africa x Congo DR / 3rd Place In The Tournament
In six matches played in the competition, DR Congo has let in five goals, but South Africa’s defence has only allowed three.
Even if the pressure is off to some extent, it might be another lengthy and close meeting, and it would be surprising if either team truly loosened up now. Bafana Bafana is a favourite to finish their AFCON. Campaign positively, having come close to reaching the final.