By Ikponmwosa Odigie
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is set to host an exciting semi-final match between two African giants, Nigeria and South Africa today at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, 6 pm Nigerian time.
Despite both teams undergoing a slow start to the tournament, they have made impressive progress, with each recording four consecutive clean sheets in their last four matches.
The upcoming match will mark the 15th encounter between Nigeria and South Africa at the senior international level, with Nigeria having a slight edge, having won seven, drawn five, and lost only two matches.
While Nigeria seeks to extend its dominance, South Africa aims to write a new chapter in their history, having last appeared in an AFCON semi-final in 2000, where they lost 2-0 to Nigeria.
Nigeria currently occupies the 42nd spot in the FIFA world rankings, ranking sixth in Africa, while South Africa sits at the 66th position, and ranks 12th in Africa. Nigeria boasts of a rich AFCON history, having reached the semi-finals 16 times, but they have advanced only once in their last six attempts, winning the tournament in 2013. On the other hand, South Africa is in their fourth semi-final, hoping to end their 20-year final drought.
Despite the odds being against South Africa, the 2023 AFCON tournament has shown favour to the underdogs, making an upset very much on the cards. The head-to-head record between the two teams will only add fuel to the anticipation of the upcoming match.
Victor Osimhen to appear vs South Africa:
Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian forward, recently suffered abdominal discomfort, which raised concerns about his ability to participate in the upcoming match. However, he has successfully recovered and has returned to training. Consequently, he has been declared fit to play in the game. In the event of his absence, Terem Moffi or Kelechi Iheanacho could have potentially filled the void. Notwithstanding, it appears that Super Eagles Jose Peseiro will be sticking to his preferred 3-4-3 formation, which does not include any significant changes in today’s starting lineup.
Bafana Bafana star man, Thapelo Maseko to miss clash vs Nigeria
South Africa’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, is facing a potential setback in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign. This is because one of their key players, Thapelo Maseko, is believed to have sustained an injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the tournament. The 21-year-old attacker, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns, got injured during the quarter-final clash against Cape Verde. Despite the setback, South Africa emerged victorious from the fixture. The unfortunate development has cast doubts over Maseko’s availability for the crucial semi-final match against Nigeria.
Who will be the better Goalkeeper?
Both teams have outstanding goalkeepers who are in contention for being named the best at the AFCON 2023 finals in Ivory Coast, as they have managed to keep four clean sheets each.
Ronwen Williams, the captain of South Africa’s national football team, delivered an outstanding performance in the recent match against Cape Verde. His exceptional goalkeeping skills were on full display as he made four crucial saves during the penalty shoot-out, which ultimately led to South Africa’s victory. Williams’ impressive display earned him the well-deserved title of man-of-the-match, leaving the fans and spectators in awe of his talent and skill.
Nigeria’s shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali, has been a standout player in the tournament with his composed and confident displays that have impressed fans and critics alike. This is his first time playing in the African Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles. Though playing in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, which is known for its competitive nature, Nwabali has been able to calm fears that Nigerian supporters had about the goalkeeping department. His performances have been nothing short of exceptional, and it is evident that he is destined for great things in his career.
