The tightly contested Group E in the Africa Cup of Nations is set to conclude this week, with South Africa aiming to secure a spot in the knockout round against Tunisia on Wednesday.
Mali currently leads the group with four points and will advance with a draw or better against Namibia. South Africa, coming off a convincing 4-0 victory over Namibia, looks to build on their recent success and continue their unbeaten streak in the tournament.
Percy Tau, redeeming himself after a missed penalty against Mali, showcased his skill by converting a crucial spot kick in the win over Namibia. Themba Zwane’s first-half brace and Thapelo Maseko’s second-half goal sealed South Africa’s dominance in the match.
Having bounced back from their initial defeat to Mali, South Africa now sits in second place in the group. While a draw might be enough to progress, they aspire to deliver another strong performance, potentially securing the top spot for a favorable draw in the knockout stage.
On the other hand, Tunisia faces a challenging task to avoid an early exit from the AFCON. The 2004 champions, with only one point from their first two games, need a win against South Africa to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Tunisia’s lone point came from a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Mali, where they leveled the score with Hamza Rafia’s equalizer. Despite a surprising defeat to Namibia in their opening match, Tunisia aims to bounce back in the crucial encounter against South Africa.
Both teams enter the match with different recent forms – South Africa with a win and a loss in AFCON and Tunisia with a draw and a loss. The outcome of this decisive clash will shape the destiny of these teams in the tournament, with both eyeing advancement to the knockout stages.
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