With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicking off this weekend in Morocco, several contenders use Tuesday’s international friendlies as final tune-ups rather than full-throttle contests. South Africa, DR Congo, Egypt and Nigeria are all in action, but motivation, squad rotation and context matter far more than raw talent when assessing betting value.
South Africa vs Ghana – Dobsonville Stadium
Odds: South Africa 1.28 | Draw 4.70 | Ghana 9.60
Bafana Bafana enter their final home friendly as clear favourites, largely due to continuity. Hugo Broos has been able to work with a predominantly locally based squad in Pretoria, while Ghana arrive with an entirely uncapped group, coached by Kassim Mingle rather than Otto Addo.
South Africa are without several Europe-based players, but a strong Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates core should ensure structure and familiarity. Ghana’s experimental line-up limits their attacking threat, which aligns with BTTS No at 1.51. With both sides prioritising fitness, Under 2.5 goals (1.85) also fits the friendly profile despite South Africa’s dominance.
DR Congo vs Zambia – Neutral venue
Odds: DR Congo 2.11 | Draw 3.02 | Zambia 3.40
This fixture carries more competitive edge. DR Congo boast seven wins from their last ten official matches and have conceded under a goal per game in that span. Zambia, by contrast, have won just twice in their last ten and continue to struggle away from home.
Head-to-head trends favour the hosts, and DR Congo’s defensive consistency makes Under 2.5 goals (1.50) the most stable angle. BTTS No (1.66) also holds value given Zambia’s low attacking output and DR Congo’s control in midfield-heavy matches.
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Egypt vs Nigeria – Cairo International Stadium
Odds: Egypt 1.93 | Draw 3.11 | Nigeria 3.83
This is the headline fixture, but also the trickiest to price. Both sides are still assembling full squads, with Nigeria only beginning camp in Cairo and likely to manage minutes carefully. Egypt, playing at home, should control tempo but are unlikely to overextend.
Given AFCON proximity, caution is expected. Under 2.5 goals (1.56) reflects the likely game state, while BTTS No (1.72) suits a match shaped by structure rather than risk. The match result markets feel secondary to totals here.
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The takeaway
These friendlies are about rhythm, not statements. South Africa’s stability, DR Congo’s defensive form and Egypt’s home control point towards low-scoring matches. Unders and BTTS No markets offer the clearest value, while heavy favourites should be treated with restraint given rotation and workload management.
Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
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