Who from the Super Eagles or Bafana Bafana will qualify for the CAN 2024 final? Nigeria challenges South Africa on Wednesday February 7 at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, for the first semi-final of this African Cup of Nations.
Read alsoThe program for the CAN 2024 semi-finals
The compositions:
Nigeria:
Nwabili - Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey - Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Osayi-Samuel - Simon, Lookman - Osimhen
South Africa:
Williams - Modiba, Mvala, Kekena, Zulu - Sithole, Mokoena - Tau, Mowena, Mudau - Makgopa.
A meeting to follow live on France 24 with our live commentary from 6
p.m. (Paris time).
Nigeria advances as favorite in this 100% English-speaking meeting, especially as its best player, Victor Osimhen, uncertain for a while due to "discomfort in the abdomen" is finally recovered and available for the match. The Super Eagles thus have plenty to do in attack, also with Ademola Lookman, already scorer of three goals at CAN 2024.
The three-time CAN winners can also count on the best tournament defense, led by captain William Troost-Ekong, who has only conceded one goal so far.
South Africa relies on a very well-established collective, and for good reason: eight starters play together at Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria. This is how Bafana Bafana held off Tunisia in the group stage, before creating a sensation by eliminating Morocco in the round of 16. Finally, the quarter-final won against Cape Verde ended with a masterpiece from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who saved four penalties (out of five) during the penalty shootout. Nigerians have every interest in not getting to that point!
In 2000 the two English-speaking nations faced each other at the same stage of the competition. Jay Jay Okocha's Nigeria then won 2-0, before losing in the final to Cameroon.
Read also Find the table for the final phase of the CAN
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