AFCON 2023 SEMI- FINAL: Litmus Test For Nigeria Vs South Africa, As The Dice Is Cast!! News

Navigation: Home / News / News / AFCON 2023 SEMI- FINAL: Litmus Test For Nigeria Vs South Africa, As The Dice Is Cast!!

AFCON 2023 SEMI- FINAL: Litmus Test For Nigeria Vs South Africa, As The Dice Is Cast!!

By Victor Enyinnaya on February 7, 2024

The dice is finally cast as four semi- finalists emerged to take on each other in their bid to secure final ticket at the ongoing 34^th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. The four teams that will be on the centre stage are Nigeria, South Africa, Ivory Coast and Congo DR.

The semi –finals games will take place on today and the first game of the day will be between Nigeria and South Africa from 6pm local time while the second semi –final will come up 9pm between host Ivory Coast and Congo DR. Truth is that these sides that are in this cadre of the continental premier football summit have come a long way and none of them can be referred to as push over.

Note that the team that could safely be described as lucky though it picked its piece and pieces after badly falling 2-0 loss to Nigeria in the group stage is host country, Ivory Coast. The Elephants continued the competition via best losers rule in its group. The team has not been so coordinated still as its quarter final game against Mali was more dramatic which later favoured them haven come from behind to breath victorious against Mali that were better. However, pundits and bookmakers have vehemently pointed out that the homers leverages more on lucky than their ingenuity of football artistry so far this championship is concerned.

Today, Super Eagles will take on South Africa to determine who goes further in the championship that is gradually on home ward bound. A winner must emerge and then wait for the winners of the second game of the day between host country, Ivory Coast and Congo DR. The team that qualify for the final will do battle for the gold, while the losers will vie for the third place match as the Month long tournament sets to bid good bye to the West African country for hitch free hosting.

As Nigeria would be going into today’s semi final game against South Africa, the giant African country will be ready for the worst. True, Super Eagles team has some upper hand against their day’s opponent in the past meets however; this football festival rubbished past records and set in new ones which would be vivid in hearts and minds of the Super Eagles players as they take on their South African counterparts. Therefore the boys from Nigeria would be prepared to the teeth and at all fronts be at alert to respond quickly to ensure South Africa will be denied any further entrance decisively.

To this analyst, this semi –final game between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana may turn out to be the trickiest match ever the Nigerian side has played so far because of how their opponents will come out full blooded in sole bid to grab the final ticket of the ongoing football summit. The South Africans though are quite aware that it is a tall dream taking on Nigeria at this stage of the championship, and so will not leave anything for chance to see how far they will go which they have not pretended about such intension.

It has been such tense scenario each time both sides square up for football supremacy and Nigeria has had upper hand. Notwithstanding, today’s outing won’t be an easy one as both teams have come a long way on their way to this stage. As this Bafana Bafana squad looks desperate to go for her second Africa Cup of Nations win, but Super Eagles are in for real dose of resistance also in her spirited bid to have her forth shot at the most prestigious biannual continental diadem.

Fans all over the World are in for real raw deal as these old football foes confront each for a place in the final of 2023 AFCON. The game is anticipated to be too tight as both technical benches will instruct their wards to be careful, vigilant and do critical study of their opponents first before striking all out. As Jose Peseiro goes for yet another litmus test encounter of his career and on Nigeria bench then how he instructs his lads to go about this one would go a long way to further brighten his Curriculum Vitae.

Peseiro must ensure he evolves tighter and killer match plan as Super Eagles tackle South Africa’s Bafana Bafana headlong today. The Portuguese trainer and his assistants must realise that the game against South Africa would be tougher than the games against Angola, Ivory Coast and Cameroun. The boys and the technical crew must also ensure this game will end in regulation time like her previous matches in round of 16 and the quarter-final in this tournament. Nigerians don’t want penalty shoot out at all. Victor Oshimen/ Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon must as usual be on full alert to reenact what they have embarked upon since the competition kicked-off.

The mid-fielders led by Alex Iwobi have been during great job to tide up handsomely henceforth. Nigeria in previous meetings at this level has been fantastic but because the current Bafana Bafana team flashes of exceptional compact displayed. South Africa’s technical hand, Hugo Broos are talking tough on the game against Jose Peresie lads and on this note only the fittest will laugh last at the end of referee’s last blast of the whistle drawing the curtain inside the main bowl of Stade de Paix Stadium, Bouake, Cote d’ Voire.

The dice no doubt is already cast as all eyes of the global football loving fans are focused on this well anticipated grudge football match between two long football foes. While Williams will be organising his side’s defenceline, our own Stanley Nwabali will be on the other hand also doing same for his Super Eagles teammates. And it is instructive to pin- point here that both safe gloves have equal outstanding performances in this tournament. Note that both goalies ply their trade in South Africa. They have shown agility which has propelled their teams enduringly thus far.

The joy in the Nigerian camp is that top striker and motivator of the team, Victor Oshinmen has been cleared as fit to lace his boots for the Super Eagles in this crucial match. One of the strongest points of this Nigerian team is that they have not succumbed to intimidation by any team no matter how highly or otherwise rated.

Therefore, this now or never encounter will not be an exception. The boys are aware what is at stake and would not leave anything to chance. What the Nigerians must endveavour to avoid is to drag this match into penalty shoot out. Since the kick- off, the- three- time AFCON kingpins have drawn the curtain at regulation time and this must be so today too.

Truly, it is a litmus test. However; Eagles can do it haven dispatched greater teams enroute to this stage. Head or tail, it won’t be an easy game but Nigeria has potential edge over her day’s opponent from records from AFCON history. Though, football is no mathematics, the Nigerians have shown great gritty, focus, diligent, zeal and result oriented and such would be further on display today and then encourage them not to the fail.

Over 200, 000,000 plus fans are solidly behind Super Eagles in far away Bouake where the game will be won and lost. Therefore Eagles must turn back the boys from South Africa, since 2013 we won the trophy last 2024 it is our turn to grab it and run away with it. These Nigerian lads have shown all it takes to beat South Africa to it as usual. Go for early goals Eagles, Go for goals!!!

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted February 7, 2024