Nigeria appear to be strongest side left in last-four

Abidjan – Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria will aim to continue their formidable record at this Africa Cup of Nations when they take on South Africa in the semifinals tomorrow, while hosts Ivory Coast meet the Democratic Republic of Congo after a miraculous run to the last-four.

Nigeria appear the strongest side left at the competition with the reigning African Footballer-of-the-Year up-front and the way coach Jose Peseiro has made them so strong defensively.

Since drawing 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea in their opening match, Nigeria have recorded four straight wins without conceding a goal.

“If you don’t concede goals you can win every time,” said Peseiro after the quarterfinal victory over Angola in Abidjan, when Ademola Lookman scored to seal a 1-0 victory.

The Nigerians have won through to a record 15th Cup of Nations semifinal as they aim to lift the trophy for the fourth time and first since 2013 in South Africa.

It is the South Africans they face at the Stade de la Paix in

Bouake in a repeat of the 2019 quarterfinal in Egypt which the Super Eagles won 2-1 thanks to current skipper William TroostEkong’s late goal.

Bafana Bafana followed that by failing to qualify for the last Afcon in 2022, but are back on the big stage under veteran Belgian coach Hugo Broos.

The man who led Cameroon to the 2017 title against the odds has now taken South Africa to their first semifinal in 24 years.

That even although they needed heroics from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to beat Cape Verde on penalties in the last-eight.

Before that they got the better of Morocco, the continent’s topranked team, and South Africa have matched Nigeria’s achievement by keeping four straight clean sheets.

“I think Nigeria is a team who are getting better and better with every game,” noted Broos.

“It is a little bit special for both teams because we also have to play each other in a few months in the qualifiers for the World Cup.

“So, it can be a very valuable test for both of us.” –