South Africa V Morocco
Monday, 1 July 2019 – 17:00 Kick-Off
Africa Cup of Nations, Group D
Pick: South Africa or Draw – 4/5 Bet365
Recent Trends
- South Africa have been beaten once in 14 matches (W5 D8 L1), although have won just two of the last ten.
- Morocco have won both games at this tournament but their record in 2019 still makes for mixed reading: W2 D1 L3.
- South Africa’s last four matches have produced one goal or fewer, while the same statistic applies to Morocco for six of their last seven games.
South Africa Preview
Having opened their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations account with a disappointing loss to Ivory Coast (1-0), South Africa realistically knew only victory over Namibia next time out would be deemed an acceptable outcome. It wasn’t emphatic nor entirely convincing, but Bongani Zungu’s goal from a corner late into the game secured them the crucial win needed.
That win puts them on three points in the group, level with Ivory Coast in second place. Now the knockout phase is within their grasp. Well, almost. Stuart Baxter’s men require only a point from their final fixture, although it happens to be against a Morocco side boasting a 100% record in the competition so far. The omens regarding a positive outcome are promising, however.
For one, Bafana Bafana have never lost a match of any kind to this opposition (W2 D3). They’re also an incredibly tough outfit to beat in general, with that narrow defeat to Ivory Coast being the only loss in their past fourteen matches (W5 D8 L1). So the prospects are promising even if their performances at the tournament so far have left lots of room for improvement.
This is unlikely to be the most entertaining of games either, as South Africa’s last four matches have produced no more than one goal in each (under 1.5 goals is available at 6/4 with in various places). Another low scoring affair would probably suit them here, though.
Morocco Preview
Some question marks hung over Morocco before these finals, after failing to win a single match prior to touching down in Egypt. Four games played this year produced only a draw and three defeats, two of which came in warm up contests with fellow African sides in the shape of Gambia (0-1) and Zambia (2-3). So for the team to begin proceedings with back to back victories here is a remarkably swift turnaround in fortunes.
Successive 1-0 wins over Namibia and then Ivory Coast has earned The Atlas Lions qualification onto the knockout phase with a game to spare. Fortunate to beat Namibia perhaps, with their winner coming in fortuitous circumstances via an own goal, but deservedly slaying Ivory Coast thanks to one moment of brilliance from mercurial playmaker Nordin Amrabat, who coolly teed up striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
Their flawless start to proceedings now provides wily coach Herve Renard with a luxury of possibly resting one or two players from the intense heat and exertions for this final fixture, although he might be reticent about jeopardizing his side’s current winning momentum.
Regardless of who starts for Morocco, this has been a fixture which has caused them plenty of issues down the years, failing to prevail in any of the previous five encounters with South Africa (L2 D3). They also share a familiar trend with their opponents of producing very low scoring games: six of Morocco’s last seven have produced one goal or fewer.
Betting Tip
South Africa or Draw (Double Chance) – 4/5 Bet365
Betting Summary
Morocco don’t need to overexert themselves here and could well rest a few key players, with qualification to the next round already assured. They’ve haven’t exactly been blowing opposition away either, with both their group stage victories coming by the slimmest of margins.
South Africa need only a point from this, so there can be no let up from them. There is also enough available evidence to suggest a positive result for Bafana Banafa is feasible. They have only been beaten once in their past 14 matches (W5 D8 L1), should be buoyed by their last result (overcoming Namibia 1-0) and have never lost to Morocco in five previous meetings (W2 D3).
