Afcon permutations: Bafana can qualify with victory over Liberia, a draw spells tiebreak headache

Bafana Bafana are on the ropes after Liberia held them to a gut-wrenching 2-2 draw in an Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at Orlando Stadium on Friday.

Lyle Foster's first-half brace was not enough as the Lone Stars struck back in the second half and silenced the home crowd.

It was a draw that felt like a defeat, but Hugo Broos's charges can amend their wrongs in Monrovia as the two nations meet at the 22 000-seat Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium.

With Bafana unsteadily positioned, the fate of Group K could be decided on Tuesday.

The group consists of three teams: Morocco, Liberia and South Africa. Zimbabwe were initially part of the group but were banned from qualifying for the tournament after their government's interference in in the sport's administration.

That should have made Bafana's task of qualifying easy, but that has not been the case.

Morocco

The Atlas Lions (6 points) have already qualified for the Nations Cup after their victories against Bafana and Liberia last year.

Depending on the other results, a draw against either SA (June) or the Lone Stars (September) will determine whether they finish first or second place in Group K.

Morocco 2-1 Bafana Bafana

Liberia 0-2 Morocco

Bafana Bafana vs Morocco – June (Date TBC)

Morocco vs Liberia – September (Date TBC)

Bafana Bafana

South Africa have only accumulated one point from their two matches. A win against Liberia in Monrovia will secure their passage to Afcon in Ivory Coast in January.

A defeat for South Africa ultimately ends their quest for qualification.

Simply put, Bafana must win in Monrovia.

If the match ends in a draw, more calculations come into place.

Morocco 2-1 Bafana Bafana

Bafana Bafana 2-2 Liberia

Liberia vs Bafana Bafana – Tuesday, 28 March (18:00 SAST)

Bafana