Monday, July 20, 2026

AFCON 2023: Nigeria, South Africa renew rivalry in semi-final clash

Nigeria and South Africa have met 15 times in competitive football since 1992.

• February 4, 2024
Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana
Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will renew their football rivalry with Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Feb. 7 at Stade De Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire, at 6.00 p.m. Nigerian time.

Nigeria and South Africa have met 15 times in competitive football since 1992.

The Super Eagles have won eight of such encounters, while the Bafana Bafana won two, with both teams drawing on five occasions.

The Bafana Bafana secured their place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2000.

Nigeria had earlier secured passage to the semi-finals of the AFCON after a hard-fought 1-0 win over giant-killers Angola in Abidjan on Friday.

The Super Eagles were eagerly waiting to face the winner of Saturday’s quarter-final between Cape Verde and South Africa for a place in the semi-final.

Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was the hero as South Africa beat Cape Verde 5-3 on penalties following a goalless 120 minutes to advance to the AFCON semi-finals.

After a tense last-eight clash ended 0-0 at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro on Saturday night, Williams remarkably saved four spot-kicks in the shootout to send Bafana Bafana through.

Both sides started brightly in an open first half, but stellar defending and top-class goalkeeping from Williams and Cape Verde’s Vozinha kept the game goalless at the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern as the teams traded blows in search of a breakthrough.

However, a combination of desperation and brilliant defending saw numerous chances go begging.

Cape Verde almost stole it in added time when Gelson Tavares pounced on a deep ball only to smash his shot off the bar, with Williams getting a hand to it for a 0-0 scoreline after 90 minutes and extra time.

The additional 30 minutes brought more chances, with South Africa’s Fagrie Lakay forcing a superb save from Vozinha.

But the deadlock remained to send the quarter-final into penalties which saw South Africa emerge victorious at the end to dump out Cape Verde from the ongoing 2023 AFCON tournament.

The tournament, which began on Jan. 13 in Cote d’Ivoire, will end on Feb. 11.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Sokoto State government logo

States

Four killed in Sokoto rainstorm

According to NEMA, many homes and critical public infrastructure, including one primary school and one hospital, were damaged.

Central Bank of Nigeria Logo

Economy

Stakeholders push policy retention as CBN’s monetary policy committee meets

In its 305th meeting in May, the MPC retained the monetary policy rate at 26.5 per cent.

Court room

States

Man seeks court order for access to two-year-old son

The judge adjourned the case until August 11 for mention.

Bright Edafe

States

Police foil cult initiation in Delta, recover firearms

The police spokesman said recovered exhibits included one pump-action gun, one cut-to-size double-barrelled gun, seven live cartridges and two expended cartridges.

Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Lagos

Sanwo-Olu pays N3.1 billion compensation to 300 Lagos property owners

Mr Sanwo-Olu presented more than N3.1 billion in compensation to over 300 property owners affected by government land acquisition.

Festus Keyamo

Economy

FG pledges policy support for sustainable aviation fuel

He stated that while aviation remains critical to economic growth, the sector must also contribute meaningfully to global efforts to address climate change.