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.
In the quest for the Golden Glove at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Ronwen Williams and Stanley Nwabali stand out with impressive performances.
The Mamelodi Sundowns keeper, Williams, and Chippa United’s Nwabali have both secured four clean sheets in the tournament, setting the stage for a thrilling semifinal clash.Williams showcased his goalkeeping prowess in a quarter-final match against Cape Verde, making stupendous saves in open play and setting a record by saving four post-match penalties during Bafana Bafana’s 2-1 victory. Before this feat, he had kept three clean sheets, including a notable 2-0 win over Morocco.
Williams showcased his goalkeeping prowess in a quarter-final match against Cape Verde, making stupendous saves in open play and setting a record by saving four penalties during the shootout in Bafana Bafana’s 2-1 victory.
He notably also kept a clean sheet earlier in the tournament in a 2-0 win over Morocco. Nwabali, the Nigerian goalkeeper, has also been a formidable force, maintaining a clean sheet in four consecutive matches.
The only blemish was allowing Equatorial Guinea to score in a 1-1 draw in their first group game. His solid performances against Angola, Cameroon, Guinea Bissau, and Ivory Coast have contributed to Nigeria’s success in reaching the semifinals.The much-anticipated face-off between Williams and Nwabali in the semifinals will likely determine the recipient of the coveted Golden Glove award. The goalkeeper who secures another clean sheet in this crucial match will emerge as the winner. The other semifinal will witness Ivory Coast facing off against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with both teams aiming for a spot in the final after impressive victories in the quarterfinals. The stakes are high as these exceptional goalkeepers vie for individual glory in the prestigious tournament.
The much-anticipated face-off between Williams and Nwabali in the semifinals will likely determine the recipient of the coveted Golden Glove award. The goalkeeper who secures another clean sheet in this crucial match will emerge as the winner.
The other semifinal will witness Ivory Coast facing off against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with both teams aiming for a spot in the final after impressive victories in the quarterfinals.
The stakes are high as these exceptional goalkeepers vie for individual glory in the prestigious tournament.
DR Congo’s head coach, Sébastien Desabre, expressed confidence in his team’s quest for an Africa Cup of Nations victory after securing their first win against Guinea in the quarter-finals.
The Leopards, previously drawing all four group stage games, triumphed 3-1, setting the stage for a semi-final clash with hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
Desabre highlighted the significance of the timing, stating, “This victory comes at the right time as we are gaining momentum in the competition. We won, we drew, but did not lose.”
Despite acknowledging the difficulty, he emphasised the team’s belief in reaching the final and admitted, “It would be foolish not to believe in the final victory.”
Confident in his squad’s attacking prowess, Desabre mentioned key forwards Bakambu, Banza, and Mayele Fiston. “We have forwards… We know it was a matter of time before we succeeded,” he asserted.
With the team’s momentum and dreams of the ultimate prize, Desabre expressed his determination, saying, “When you reach the semi-finals, you first want to reach the final. And if you have the chance to reach the final, you want to win it. We will do everything to have no regrets.”
As DR Congo’s AFCON journey unfolds, the coach and the team are daring to dream of a glorious ending to their tournament fairytale.
Egypt’s disappointment in the Africa Cup of Nations has led to the dismissal of Portuguese manager Rui Vitoria. The Pharaohs’ last-16 exit, marked by an 8-7 penalty shootout loss to DR Congo, prompted the Egypt Football Association (EFA) to part ways with Vitoria and his backroom staff.
The team struggled throughout the tournament, drawing all three group-stage matches and facing challenges exacerbated by an early injury to captain Mohamed Salah.
Former Al Ahly coach Mohamed Youssef has been appointed as the interim manager, with the EFA considering foreign coaches for a permanent role. Vitoria, who took charge in 2022, had initially enjoyed success with 12 wins in 14 games before Afcon 2023, including victories in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
His four-year deal was cut short, mirroring the trend of coaching changes at Afcon 2023, which saw several other teams parting ways with their managers.
Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi, Gambia’s Tom Saintfiet, Ghana’s Chris Hughton, Tunisia’s Jalel Kadri, Tanzania’s Adel Amrouche and Ivory Coast boss Jean-Louis Gasset have all parted ways with their teams.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to make a strategic move to Bouake on Tuesday as they gear up for the crucial semi-final clash against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the ongoing 34th Africa Cup of Nations.
Having remained in Abidjan since their opening game, coach Jose Peseiro’s men will intensify their preparations in Abidjan on Sunday and Monday before their official training session upon arrival in Cote d’Ivoire’s second city on Tuesday afternoon.Interestingly, the historical connection between Nigeria and Bouake adds a unique flavor to this encounter. In 1984, during Cote d’Ivoire’s previous hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria faced Egypt in a semi-final showdown in the same city. The memorable match saw the Super Eagles, led by Stephen Keshi, mount a comeback from a 2-0 deficit, ultimately winning the penalty shootout 8-7.
Interestingly, the historical connection between Nigeria and Bouake adds a unique flavor to this encounter. In 1984, during Cote d’Ivoire’s previous hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria faced Egypt in a semi-final showdown in the same city.
The memorable match saw the Super Eagles, led by Stephen Keshi, mount a comeback from a 2-0 deficit, ultimately winning the penalty shootout 8-7.
As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming semi-final against Bafana Bafana, there’s a nostalgic hope for a repeat of past triumphs, particularly the AFCON 2000 semi-final where Nigeria emerged victorious.
The stage is set, and football enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting Wednesday’s showdown, anticipating another memorable chapter in Nigeria’s AFCON journey.”
