South Africa and Nigeria imperious defences to be put to test
A meeting of two imperious defences will decide the first entrant to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final, when South Africa and Nigeria meet on Wednesday.
Nigeria‘s impressive Africa Cup of Nations campaign has put them a step away from the final, but they must outdo South Africa in Wednesday’s semi-final at Stade de la Paix.
The Super Eagles kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet last time out against Angola en route to the last four, while Bafana Bafana needed Ronwen Williams at his finest to defeat Cape Verde in the quarter-finals.
Ademola Lookman has been the Super Eagles’ shining light at AFCON 2023, adding to his brace against Cameroon to score his third at the finals, thus becoming the fourth Nigerian to score three or more goals in the knockout rounds of a single edition, joining Odion Ighalo in 2019 (four), Jay-Jay Okocha in 2004 (three) and Rashidi Yekini in 1994 (three).
Despite Osimhen’s profligate finishing at the finals, Monday night’s news of the Napoli striker’s abdominal discomfort has stunned supporters, as neither Terem Moffi nor Kelechi Iheanacho have received game time all tournament.
Regardless of the African Footballer of the Year’s eventual availability, Peseiro is expected to stick to his 3-4-2-1, with Lookman and Moses Simon supporting Moffi, Iheanacho or Paul Onuachu if Osimhen does not feature.
South Africa are not expected to be compliant opponents, considering they have already eliminated competition favourites Morocco in the last 16 and defeated Cape Verde in Saturday’s quarter-final.
Williams was the undoubted hero in the shootout that followed 120 minutes without a goal, saving four penalties to divert attention from his teammates botching their kicks from 12 yards.
The upshot of their goalkeeper’s brilliance means a first semi-final appearance at the Cup of Nations since 2000, with Bafana Bafana making the semis for a third consecutive edition in that finals at the start of the millennium — winners in 1996, runners-up in 1998 and third in 2000.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
South Africa have never beaten Nigeria at the Cup of Nations, losing 2-0 in the semis in 2000, being defeated 4-0 in 2004 and suffering elimination after a 2-1 loss at the last eight in 2019, underscoring the one-sided nature of this fixture at the continental showpiece.
PREDICTION
Nigeria have not only had an extra day to recover before Wednesday’s fixture with South Africa in Bouake, they have also navigated the knockout rounds without needing extra time or penalties to advance, giving Peseiro’s side the physical edge needed in the semis to advance to the competition’s decider.Even though it is unknown if the Super Eagles have enough left in the tank for another performance mostly hinging on defensive solidity, the ambition of featuring in their first final since winning it in 2013 could see them carry on doggedly in the competition’s first semi-final.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Ivory Coastwill count on home support to beat Congo DR
Ivory Coast battle Congo DR at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Wednesday in the second semi-final at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
It is the Elephants’ first game in Ebimpe since their 4-0 humiliation against Equatorial Guinea at the group stage, and they get the chance to appease the supporters in Abidjan against a DRC side keen to make the competition’s decider since 1974. No other team has epitomised the drama-laden Cup of Nations more than the host nation, who have soldiered on despite their challenges with injuries and a dispiriting group stage.
The Elephants were on the brink of elimination after losing heavily in their final group-stage fixture against the Equatoguineans, but faith has been renewed in this side under Emerse Fae‘s leadership since the ex-Ivory Coast international replaced Jean-Louis Gasset before their knockout fate was determined.
Since that decision, the home side have eliminated defending champions Senegal and fought back incredibly with 10 men to score in the final minute of regulation and extra time to seal a phenomenal victory over Mali that raised the roof in Bouake.
While it is uncertain if Ivory Coast have anything left in the tank, considering they have played an extra 30 minutes against the Lions of Teranga and in Saturday’s quarter-final success, the hosts hope to draw inspiration from a crowd to take them through to their first final.
DRC have barely played this fixture since claiming the 1974 title and have been defeated in both semis in 1998 and 2015, even if they secured third place in both editions to lessen the pain of not making the deciding fixture.
The Leopards hope to be third-time lucky against the competition hosts, with the benefit of already playing at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium against Guinea standing them in good stead for Wednesday’s semi-final.
However, they did not contend with a partisan and hostile crowd in that fixture, suggesting different questions will be asked of Desabre’s side against the Elephants.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
These teams have not met at AFCON since the 2017 edition, a group game that ended 2-2, extending DRC’s winless run against Ivory Coast at the Cup of Nations to two games, having defeated the West African nation in their initial meeting in 2002.
PREDICTION.
Ivory Coast are without the suspended Serge Aurier for an accumulation of cards, Odilon Kossounou, sent off for two yellow card offences against Mali, and Oumar Diakite, dismissed moments after scoring the quarter-final decider for receiving a second booking.
While Congo DR could fancy their prospects against the host nation, the Elephants have momentum and the backing of the home support.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
