Brazil vs South Africa:
Rio Olympics 2016: Group A,
Date: Thursday, August 4, 2016,
Kick-off: 20:00 UK,
Venue: Estadio Nacional de Brasilia.


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Brazil long time admiration of winning an Olympic men football tournament for the first time campaign resumes with the Group A clash against South Africa.

Brazil have participated in Olympic Football 12 times since they made their debut in 1952. And they have went on to win five medals, which three are silvers (1984, 1988 and 2012) and two Bronze (1996, 2008).

The Olympic men tournament is the only competition organized by FIFA that Brazil have failed to win. They most often come as runners up and narrowly lost 2-1 in the final game to Mexico in London 2012. In the route to the final in London, they beat Egypt, Belarus, and New Zealand in group stage matches and eliminated Honduras and South Korea in the knock-out rounds.

While South Africa qualified to Rio 2016 Olympic Games by placing third in the 2015 CAF U23 competition at Senegal, a tournament which was won by Nigeria.

South Africa hold bad record in Olympics football since 1994. They have qualified just once, that was Sydney 2000 where they were eliminated in the group stages, picking just three points.

Brazil vs South Africa: Head-to-Head Stats

Brazil have engaged in eight friendly games since 2015 with better results than South Africa. They have won six, drew one and lost one, scored 21 goals and allowed just six into their net.

Ten games since 2015 have been played by South Africa in all competitions including African tournaments. They have won four, lost three and draw two while scored 15 goals and conceded 12. The only 2016 friendly game was on 27, Match 2016 against Brazil in which they lost by 3-1.

Brazil vs South Africa: Prediction

The last friendly match played between these two sides in 2016 prove the credentials of the Brazil team by beating South Africa 3-1. South Africa also boast of good young players in their squad but do not have the skills or experience at higher level like their Latin American counterparts.


Brazil can boast of producing some of the most enterprising talents in world football. And this young squad will be highly motivated to win hearts in front of their home crowd. The senior players like Gabriel Jesus, Douglas Costa and Neymar are all match winners and could prove heavy for the South Africans.

I will be backing Brazil to win both halves and see-off the game by comfortable margin.

Predicted Score line: Brazil 4-1 South Africa

Brazil vs South Africa: Tips

  1. Half Time/ Full Time – Brazil/Brazil.
  2. Over 2.5 goals.