The battle for qualification to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) continues with Eswatini vs Guinea-Bissau. Eswatini is hosting Guinea-Bissau at the Mbombela Stadium on Friday, 15 November 2024. While Eswatini’s campaign has effectively ended, Guinea-Bissau still holds a slim chance of making it to Morocco and requires a victory to keep those hopes alive.
Eswatini vs Guinea-Bissau Match Preview
Eswatini’s chances of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON were all but extinguished on October 14, when they were soundly beaten 3-0 by Mozambique in their latest qualifying match. Despite a promising start, with a 1-1 draw against Mozambique earlier in the month, Eswatini has struggled throughout the qualifiers, leaving them rooted at the bottom of Group I with just one point from four matches.
Their hopes were further dashed after a disappointing series of defeats to Guinea-Bissau and Mali. The defeat to Mozambique, in which goals from Stanley Ratifo, Domingues, and Geny Catamo sealed the fate of the match, was a bitter blow to the team. Eswatini’s long wait for a first-ever AFCON appearance continues as they now sit seven points adrift of second-placed Mali.
However, Eswatini enters this match on a high note after securing a 4-0 aggregate win over Zimbabwe in the African Nations Championship qualifiers, offering a silver lining to their campaign. With no pressure of qualification, they will be playing for pride and to showcase their best performance in front of their home crowd.
Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, still harbors aspirations for AFCON qualification. Despite a frustrating 0-0 draw with Mali on October 15, they remain in the race with four points from four games. Guinea-Bissau’s early victory over Eswatini and their tough losses to Mozambique and Mali have left them needing all three points from this match to stay competitive in Group I.
Guinea-Bissau’s record against Eswatini has been impressive in recent years, winning the last three meetings between the two teams and scoring seven goals while conceding just one since November 2019. They will be determined to extend that streak and keep their qualification hopes alive.
Team News and Expected Lineups
Eswatini
Eswatini head coach Zdravko Logarusic has selected a 22-man squad for this round of qualifiers. Players like Xolani Gama, Mxolisi Manana, Njabulo Thwala, and Sabelo Ndzinisa are expected to play a key role. Gama is likely to start in goal, with the defensive line consisting of Sibandze, Silenge, Mamba, and Thwala. The attack will likely be led by Thubelihle Mavuso and Bongwa Matsebula, with Neliswa Dlamini and Junior Magagula expected to manage the midfield.
Eswatini Possible Starting XI:
Formation: 4-4-2
- Goalkeeper: Gama
- Defenders: Sibandze, Silenge, Mamba, Thwala
- Midfielders: Tfomo, Dlamini, Magagula, Ngwenya
- Forwards: Mavuso, Matsebula
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau coach Luis Boa Morte has stuck with many of the same players from their October international break. The defense is expected to feature Jefferson Encada, Opa Sangante, and Nanu, while Alfa Semedo, Dalcio, and Janio Bikel will likely control the midfield. In attack, Everton’s Beto and Stade Brestois’ Mama Balde are expected to be the focal points.
Guinea-Bissau Possible Starting XI:
Formation: 4-3-3
- Goalkeeper: Manuel Balde
- Defenders: Encada, Sangante, Cande, Nanu
- Midfielders: Semedo, Dalcio, Bikel
- Forwards: Mama Balde, Beto, Rodrigues
Eswatini vs Guinea-Bissau Prediction: Eswatini 0-2 Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau enters this game with much more to play for, needing three points to keep their qualification hopes alive. With a stronger attack and more on the line, they are expected to secure a comfortable victory over an Eswatini team that has struggled in the qualifiers. Given Guinea-Bissau’s dominance in their recent head-to-head matchups, a win for them is the likely outcome.
Betting Tips and Odds
For those interested in placing bets on the Eswatini vs Guinea-Bissau match, here’s a breakdown of popular betting markets, odds, and tips for the upcoming encounter.
| Bet Type | Description | Odds | Betting Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time Result | Predicts the winner of the match. | Guinea-Bissau: 1.50 | Guinea-Bissau is the favorite here and should secure a win. |
| Both Teams to Score | Whether both teams will score in the match. | Yes: 2.80 / No: 1.45 | Eswatini has struggled offensively, making “No” a safer option. |
| Over/Under 2.5 Goals | Whether the match will have more or fewer than 2.5 goals. | Over 2.5: 2.20 / Under 2.5: 1.70 | Given both teams’ scoring trends, “Under 2.5” is likely. |
| Correct Score | Predict the exact final score. | 2-0 Guinea-Bissau: 5.50 | Guinea-Bissau is likely to win by a comfortable score. |
| First Goal Scorer | Which player will score first in the match. | Mama Balde: 6.50 | Balde is a key offensive threat and likely to open the scoring. |
| Double Chance | A bet on either team to win or draw. | Guinea-Bissau or Draw: 1.20 | Guinea-Bissau’s form makes them the clear favorite. |
| Half-Time/Full-Time | Prediction of the result at both half-time and full-time. | Guinea-Bissau/Guinea-Bissau: 2.00 | Guinea-Bissau is expected to dominate both halves. |
| Total Corners | Total number of corners in the match. | Over 9.5: 2.00 | Given both teams’ attacking tendencies, expect more corners. |
| Team to Score in Both Halves | Whether Guinea-Bissau will score in both halves of the match. | Yes: 3.10 | Guinea-Bissau is likely to score at least once in each half. |
Conclusion
With Eswatini playing for pride and Guinea-Bissau fighting for their AFCON qualification, this match promises to be an exciting encounter. Guinea-Bissau is heavily favored, and their strong offensive options should help them secure a crucial win. Eswatini’s hopes have faded, but they will still look to put up a solid fight. For bettors, backing Guinea-Bissau to win and opting for “Under 2.5” goals may be wise choices given the circumstances.
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