In one of the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa and Nigeria are set to compete, with the match to be held in Ivory Coast.
The other semi-final will feature the host nation, Ivory Coast, facing off against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nigeria has remained undefeated thus far in the tournament, with their poorest result being a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in the opening match. Conversely, South Africa has suffered only one defeat, which occurred in their opening game against Mali. Out of the 14 matches played between the two countries, Nigeria has won 7, lost 2, and drawn 5.
To advance to this stage, Nigeria overcame teams such as Angola and Cameroon, while South Africa defeated Morocco and Cape Verde. The last time South Africa won the AFCON was in 1996, followed by a second-place finish in 1998 and a third-place finish in 2000. Nigeria’s most recent victory in the tournament was in 2013.
Nigeria has been employing a 3-4-3 formation, shifting to a 5-4-1 when defending, whereas South Africa plays with a 4-2-3-1 setup. The Super Eagles confirmed the availability of star striker Victor Osimhen for the match, while South Africa’s dangerous winger, Thapelo Maseko, has been sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Aside from Osimhen, Nigeria boasts key players such as William Troost-Ekong, Ademola Lookman, Ola Aina, and Stanley Nwabali, while South Africa features players like Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena. \
The Nigeria vs South Africa match is scheduled for Wednesday at Stade Bouaké in Bouaké, Ivory Coast, with a kick-off time of 17:00 local time, equivalent to 17:00 GMT, 18:00 CET, and 18:00 Nigerian Time.
