Expectations are usually sky-high when Nigeria heads into the Africa Cup of Nations for the obvious reason of its glorious past.
There was not that much of such confidence heading into the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast considering some poor string of results during the qualifiers as well as the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and some international friendlies.
The Super Eagles have, however, proved many doubters and naysayers wrong by finishing runners-up in their group, beating the likes of hosts Ivory Coast, five-time champions Cameroon, and Angola along the way to set up a semi-final meeting with South Africa at Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Wednesday evening.
In view of the clash between Nigeria????????????????????South Africa, we look into both teams and players performance.
Some quick comparisons because numbers don’t lie!????#Afrosport #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 #Africanfootball pic.twitter.com/drwNFsxR5H
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) February 6, 2024
Having beaten the above-mentioned countries, it is expected that facing Bafana Bafana should not be much of a problem owing to the edge the Eagles have in head-to-head meetings with seven wins in 14 meetings including three AFCON meetings that have ended in an aggregate 8-1 victory.
All these point to a potential victory for the Super Eagles but it is not going to be that pretty straightforward. For one, South Africa are making their first AFCON semi-final appearance since 2000 when they finished third in the tournament co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.
Coincidentally, it was Nigeria that beat them in the semi-finals on that occasion.
They will also be more to the game, knowing that Bafana Bafana have gotten results against the likes of 2004 champions Tunisia, neighbours Namibia, tournament favourites Morocco, and an impressive Cape Verde side, by keeping clean sheets in all of them.
Knocking out the Atlas Lions, Africa’s top-ranked team was a massive statement and surely, they will believe they can do it again and go the distance.
Bafana are also coached by a seasoned Belgian coach Hugo Bross who led Cameroon to AFCON glory in 2017, by defeating Egypt in the final.
Nigeria, on their part, have a reputation of being the semi-final specialists and not going beyond.
They might have three gold medals and another four silver medals but they have finished in third place eight times, most recently in 2019, and is the most of any team.
It can be argued that on those eight occasions, the Super Eagles faced tough opposition such as Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Algeria in the semis but it does not take away the fact they have fallen in the semi-finals too many times.
They have the most AFCON semi-final appearances (15) but have only progressed six times. Wednesday’s clash in Bouake should not be the 10th failure to make it into the final.
Africa and the world has seen the ability of these two.???????? Tomorrow, it would be down to keeping a perfect composure to ensure their individual team comes out on top.
Who would be the better goalie?#Afrosport #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 #Africanfootball pic.twitter.com/uokmqRQYnr
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) February 6, 2024
Peseiro has been able to mastermind the Nigerian squad from a side lacking ideas and coercion to a resilient, solidly defensive, and fluidly attacking team.
All these have changed perceptions about his abilities to effectively manage the team at the highest level as the Super Eagles have won their last four AFCON games without conceding.
Now it is time for him to give the players one more push to get into the final and potentially write his name in the annals of Nigerian football history.
I wish Peseiro luck, the pressure is getting wesser on him actually lol…. welldone consistent reporter