AFCON - Third-place play-off & Final tips

After a month of twists and turns, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations reaches its conclusion this weekend.

The third-place play-off between South Africa and DR Congo takes place on Saturday before tournament hosts Ivory Coast meet Nigeria a day later for the biggest prize in African football.

Tip 1 - South Africa to win @ 47/20

DR Congo’s run to the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was a great achievement, but it pales in comparison to South Africa’s sensational journey.

Despite the majority of their squad plying their trade in their homeland, Bafana Bafana defied the odds to make it out of a group including Tunisia before beating 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in the knockout stage.

They held their own against a supremely talented Nigeria side in the semi-finals, taking the Super Eagles to penalties despite being reduced to ten men for the final five minutes of extra-time. A repeat of that performance should be enough to see off DR Congo.

The Leopards were beaten 1-0 by South Africa in a friendly in September and given that they could only manage a draw with Morocco - a side Bafana Bafana swept aside with ease - in the group stage, they look set to come up short in their quest for the bronze medal on Saturday.

Tip 2 - Under 1.5 goals in Nigeria v Ivory Coast @ 7/5

Games at the Africa Cup of Nations are invariably tight, a trait that becomes only heightened as the stakes get higher and higher in the knockout rounds.

Eight of the last nine Afcon finals have generated no more than one goal and a single strike could be enough to settle matters in Sunday's final between Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

It finished 1-0 in Nigeria's favour when the two sides met in the group stage and the title decider promises to be just as tight.

Ivory Coast are far from a free-scoring side, netting just four six times in as many games at the tournament, while Nigeria have kept four clean sheets in their last five games.

A bet on under 1.5 goals in the final looks a solid investment.

Tip 3 - Double: Ivory Coast to win the trophy and Teboho Mokoena to score v DR Congo @ 11/1

Ivory Coast have looked much better since sacking manager Jean-Louis Gasset at the end of the group stage, and the return of attacking stars Sebastien Haller and Simon Adingra could help them turn the tables on Nigeria.

The Super Eagles will make them work hard, though, so back the Elephants to lift the trophy as opposed to win in 90 minutes in case extra-time or penalties are required.

Combining that outcome with Teboho Mokoena to score for South Africa against DR Congo makes for an enticing 11/1 double for this weekend’s crunch double-header.

Mokoena has netted Bafana Bafana’s last two goals at the tournament and looked lively during all 120 minutes of his side’s heartbreaking semi-final defeat to Nigeria.

The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder has enjoyed an excellent tournament and could play a big part in South Africa earning the third-placed prize.