Nigeria vs South Africa: A Clash Between Legends
Nigeria vs South Africa in the AFCON 2023 Semifinals
The semifinal between Nigeria and South Africa is one of the most anticipated matches by all fans of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Are you ready for this game that will spark fireworks? Here, on beIN SPORTS, we bring you the most comprehensive preview of "The Super Eagles" vs "The Bafana Bafana".
- This will be the fourth encounter between Nigeria and South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations, with the Super Eagles winning the previous three games with an aggregate score of 8-1.
- Nigeria and South Africa last met in the AFCON semifinals in 2000, with the Super Eagles prevailing 2-0 thanks to a brace from Tijani Babangida.
- Nigeria is playing in their record fifteenth semifinal in the Africa Cup of Nations, while they have only advanced in one of the last six at this stage of the competition, winning the tournament in South Africa in 2013.
- Nigeria has won their last four AFCON games without conceding goals; they could keep five consecutive clean sheets in the competition for the first time since March 1982.
- South Africa is playing their fourth semifinal in the Africa Cup of Nations and their first since 2000 when they were eliminated by Nigeria (2-0).
- South Africa has kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history.
- Nigeria has only three different goal scorers in AFCON 2023 (Lookman, Osimhen, and Troost-Ekong), their lowest number in a single edition since 2008 (2, Yakubu, and Mikel).
- South Africa has had six shots following quick ball recovery in AFCON 2023, only Egypt has had more (7), while only Morocco (9) has had more direct attacks than Bafana Bafana (8) in the competition this year.
- Nigeria has the highest expected goals (8.59) tally and the most big chances (18) in AFCON 2023, only Ivory Coast (46) has had more shots from inside the box than the Super Eagles (44).
Don't miss Nigeria vs South Africa on beIN SPORTS this Wednesday, February 7th at 9:00 AM PT 12:00 PM ET.