Our prediction for this Africa Cup of Nations 2024 match:
Nigeria will look to extend their winning run to five games at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when they face South Africa in the semis on Wednesday. The Super Eagles are eyeing their fifth consecutive clean sheet and they are likely to rely on their rock-solid defence in the semis. A man to keep an eye on in the home team will be Atalanta pacey winger Ademola Lookman, who scored the winner against Angola.
Barring any fresh injury worries, Jose Peseiro is unlikely to make changes to the team that defeated the Palancas Negras. Bafana Bafana, on the other hand, set up a meeting with Nigeria by beating Cape Verde on penalties. Anyhow, home win should be considered as Victor Osimhen and Co. have found their best form. South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has a full squad to choose from as well.
Highlighted Player (Alex Iwobi):
Alex Iwobi is one of the most talented African footballers. The Nigerian football player was born in Lagos on May 3, 1996, but he moved to Arsenal at the age of 8. In 2015 he made his first-team debut for the Gunners, starting in a 3-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup.
Speaking of his Premier League debut, Alex Iwobi played his first game for Arsenal in a 3-0 victory over Swansea City in October, 2015. The pacey winger played for England at youth level, but he eventually went on to play for Nigeria. Iwobi made his senior debut with the Super Eagles on October 8, 2015, coming as a substitute for Ahmed Musa in a 2-0 loss to DR Congo.
On October 7, 2017 the Arsenal footballer scored the winner for Nigeria against Zambia (1-0) which helped the Super Eagles book their place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals. Speaking of his individual trophies, Alex Iwobi was named CAF Young Player of the Year 2016.
Highlighted Team (South Africa):
Controlled by South Africa Football Association, South Africa national football team mainly play their home games at FNB Stadium which can hold up to 94,736 spectators. The Bafana Bafana qualified for their first FIFA World Cup in 1998, but they failed to advance to the knockout stages of the showpiece tournament in France.
Four years later South Africa participated at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, with the team suffering once again suffering elimination in the group stages of the competition. South Africa were elected to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but despite defeating France in Group A, they eventually failed to book their place in the last 16.
The Bafana Bafana, though, did well to win the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, with the team beating Tunisia in the title game. South Africa played their first international game against Argentina back in 1906, with the team suffering a 1-0 loss to the Albiceleste,