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Egypt's Olympic team is only one victory REUTERS / Mohamed Abd El Ghany

Defending Nigeria was eliminated following a draw (0-0) against South Africa in their last group match. Bafana Bafana will challenge Egypt in the semifinals while Cote d'Ivoire face Ghana. The finalists and the team that will inherit third place will be directly qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Nigeria, and its big CV, is down. The first African country Olympic champion (Atlanta, 1996), finalist in 2008 in Beijing, and third in 2016 in Rio, Nigeria, defending champion of this CAN U23, was eliminated Friday. The Olympic Eagles were unable to beat South Africans to advance to the semi-finals.

Côte d'Ivoire (0-1) beat Nigeria with a 3-1 win over Zambia in their second outing. But against South Africa, who has not conceded a goal in this tournament, the protégés of Imama Amapakano have fallen on a wall.

It is therefore the Bafana Bafana who have won the right to challenge the host country. Egypt, euphoric in this CAN with three wins in three games, is a favorite for his semifinal. The Pharaohs who missed London 2016, aim to be on a trip to Tokyo, and are counting on popular support to win the trophy.

In the second semifinal, Ivory Coast, winner of Zambia (1-0), will face Ghana for a meeting that looks indecisive. Ghana, the first African country to win a medal (bronze at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992) and has not played in the Olympics since 2004, is behind its past, with Côte d'Ivoire behind a second participation in the Games. OJ. More than a victory to make the Olympic dream come true.