In the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations semifinal clash between Nigeria and South Africa, the Super Eagles stand as the formidable nemesis for Bafana Bafana.

The historical backdrop of this rivalry traces back to Nigeria’s absence in the 1996 Nations Cup, a tournament won by South Africa on home soil but marred by Nigeria’s withdrawal over political differences.

Nigeria boasts an illustrious football history, especially during the 1990s when stars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Finidi George, Sunday Oliseh, Daniel Amokachi, and Nwankwo Kanu dominated the scene.

Even beyond that era, Nigeria continued to assert themselves as an African powerhouse with World Cup appearances and victories in the Nations Cup. While Nigeria doesn’t necessarily have anything to prove, their encounters with Bafana seem to carry extra weight.

The lingering sentiment from 1996 and a desire to showcase their prowess against South Africa has fueled their competitive spirit, evident in their impressive record. Over the years, Nigeria has won seven, drawn five, and lost two out of 14 clashes against South Africa.

Notably, they have only suffered one loss in a competitive game, a 2-0 defeat in a Nations Cup qualifier in 2017. However, the last decade has seen a less convincing record, with the last six encounters resulting in a win for each side and four draws.

As the teams gear up for the AFCON semifinal in Ivory Coast, Nigeria has regained strength after a shaky start. Coach José Peseiro’s squad, featuring stars like Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, and Alex Iwobi, has showcased resilience and skill, winning four consecutive games after an initial draw.

Bafana Bafana’s coach, Hugo Broos, acknowledges Nigeria’s improvement and the impact of players like Ademola Lookman, who has scored three goals in two knockout games.

Broos sees the upcoming match not only as a battle for a spot in the Nations Cup final but also as a test before the World Cup qualifiers. Peseiro, on the other hand, may seek more goals from his star player, Victor Osimhen, who has the potential to be a game-changer.

The clash promises to be intense, with European-based stars from both teams adding to the anticipation. As the rivalry continues, this semifinal encounter holds significance beyond Afcon, setting the stage for future battles in the World Cup qualifiers.