South Africa meet Ghana on Thursday in a crucial AFCON 2021 qualifier at Soccer City. We take a look at the game from a betting angle.
Let’s start with a look at the Group C table where we have Ghana currently on top on goal difference on 9 points with South Africa level on 9 points and Sudan on 6 points with each team having played 4 matches. Sao Tome are guaranteed to finish bottom of the table after 4 straight defeats.
With only 2 matches left to play, this game is of the utmost importance as if Ghana can get a draw or victory they will all, but guarantee themselves a spot in the finals given that they host Sao Tome on the weekend.
South Africa really need to win this game and follow that up with a win in Sudan in a few days time. Bafana Bafana have won 3 successive matches including beating Sao Tome, home and away and Sudan 1-0 at home. Their only defeat of the campaign came in their opening match away at Ghana where they went down 2-0.
Ghana are coming off a disappointing defeat away at Sudan in November last year, a game where they started 6/10 favourites, but went down 1-0. Prior to that they had a 100% record with home wins over Bafana Bafana and Sudan and a 1-0 away win over Sao Tome.
Ghana have been unable to get back some of their overseas players for this fixture and Bafana Bafana have to take advantage of that fact.
Aside from the Group meeting back in November 2019 these sides have played a couple of friendly Internationals in 2019 and 2016 with both games finishing as draws.
BETTING – Click here to bet
South Africa 27/20
Draw 18/10
Ghana 53/20
Suggested Bet: Correct Score, South Africa 1, Ghana 0 at 5/1
With so much on the line this is bound to be an incredibly tight game and it is no surprise to see under 2.5 goals trading as short as 9/20. Bafana will have to risk all at some stage and I think if they do get the goal they will go straight into defensive mode to defend their lead. The 1-0 victory looks worth a small bet at the price.
Other bets I quite fancy are South Africa to keep a clean sheet, yes, at 13/10 and total goals 1 exactly at 59/20 (this would mean that we would also win if Ghana won 1-0).
Looking at the Halftime / Fulltime markets, a draw at halftime with South Africa winning in the second-half is priced at 19/4 and while I was tempted by this I am going to settle on South Africa to win 1-0.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
