Africa’s biggest tournament is here and we’re covering AFCON picks, parlays and best bets all tournament long. Read on for our Round of 16 Africa Cup of Nations predictions for today’s game between South Africa vs Cameroon.
The match kicks off on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 2pm EST, between 5-time champs Cameroon and last tournament’s bronze medal winners South Africa.
South Africa came 2nd in Group B at 2-0-1, scoring 5 and conceding 4.
Cameroon were 2nd in Group F, undefeated at 2-1-0, scoring 4, conceding 2.
Only 7/36 Group Stage games saw Over 3.5 goals, so that’s been an OK little parlay piece. Under 2.5 has also gone 19-17 though, so it’s about even in that department. In the last AFCON, during the Knockouts, Under 2.5 went 12-4. Under 3.5 went 15-1.
AFCON Odds and Picks
Here are today’s odds for the Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16.
| Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| South Africa | +250 |
| Draw | +187 |
| Cameroon | +140 |
| South Africa to advance | +110 |
| Cameroon to advance | -150 |
| BTTS Yes / No | -110 / -125 |
| Over 2.5 / Under 2.5 | +135 / -175 |
South Africa vs Cameroon Preview
South Africa (Bafana Bafana)
61st in FIFA Rankings.
Bafana Bafana came into AFCON as one of the form teams right now being undefeated in 9 games (4-5-0). They stayed strong winning on Matchday 1, by a 2-1 score over Angola.
On MD2 they suffered defeat though, but just barely. Egypt was awarded a PK in the 45′ which they scored, then immediately took red a card right after, but South Africa couldn’t find a way to capitalize all second half and lost 1-0.
MD3 was vs Zimbabwe. Both teams scored early, and it was 1-1 at the half. South Africa took a 2-1 lead, an OG tied it at 2-2, and an 82′ PK gave Bafana Bafana the 3-2 win.
They now have only 2 losses in 16 games. They’ve had some of the higher-scoring games at AFCON (2-1, 1-0, 3-2), and the Over 2.5 is on 4-2 run overall for them. The game vs Egypt is the only time they’ve not scored in the past 6 games.
Player-wise, Lyle Foster scored again vs Zimbabwe and he has 6 shots, 4 on target and 2 goals.
Cameroon (The Indomitable Lions)
57th in FIFA Rankings.
On Matchday 1, Etta Eyong’s 6′ minute goal stood up as the only goal in a 1-0 win over Gabon.
On MD2 vs Ivory Coast they conceded in the 51′ but tied it in the 56′ from an own goal and went on to draw 1-1. The shots were minimal with Cameroon having 1 on target and Ivory Coast only 2.
Next up was Mozambique. The Mambas scored first in the 23′, but Cameroon stormed back with goals in the 28′ (own goal) and the winner in the 55′ (Kofane) for a 2-1 win. Cameroon suffered an injury to captain Tolo who left with a hamstring injury.
They’ve now only lost 2/20, Under 2.5 is 7-2 and BTTS usually doesn’t hit with the ‘No’ going 6-2 and 8-4.
South Africa vs Cameroon Head-to-Head
These teams usually draw with South Africa leading 3-5-1. They’ve not played though since 2016 in 0-0 and 2-2 draws.
The other head-to-head note, is that Bafana Bafana coach Broos, has some insights into this Cameroon team, having coached them to AFCON glory in 2017.
AFCON Prediction
Both teams are in solid form and have rarely lost for some time. In AFCON, South Africa totalled the 4th-most shots on target with 19. But then Cameroon tied for the 2nd-fewest shots on target allowed with just 6.
This looks tough to split. With some open games for South Africa, the BTTS (-110) could be an option. But Cameroon’s tighter style could lead to a lower-scoring game and an Under 2.5 (-175). A combo bet could be Foster to have a shot on target plus Under 3.5 (-115) or Under 2.5 (+160). Alternatively, a draw would not be surprising (+187).
- AFCON Picks: Draw (+187) OR Foster 1+ shot on target & under 3.5 (-115)
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Ryan Métivier is a seasoned editor, writer and communications professional with years of experience in all fields. When it comes to covering sports, he’s written for numerous outlets and organizations including the OHL, CHL, SportsXpress, Sports Betting Dime, Cleveland.com, MassLive, FanSided and others.
While he’ll always cheer for his hometown Toronto teams, when it comes to betting, his only allegiance is his bankroll. Ryan specializes in global soccer, the NFL and the NHL, but if there is a bet to be made, he’ll make it. As the founder of Shred The Spread, Ryan focuses on combining storylines, trends, analytics and good bankroll management to creating simple bets that make sense.
When not making a case for why both teams will score in an MLS soccer match, he can be found focusing his efforts on fitness, attempting to learn Spanish, cooking or planning his travel adventure.
