Nigeria vs South Africa Prediction 07.02.2024

• Competition: Africa Cup of Nations - Semi-Finals
• Date: Wednesday, 7th, February 2024
• Kickoff: 17:00 UK / 18.00 CET
• Venue: Stade de la Paix (Bouake)

Just a step away from reaching the grand finale of the African Cup of Nations, the red-hot favorites Nigeria will lock horns with the dark horse South Africa at Stade de la Paix in Bouake in the first semifinal on Wednesday.

Nigeria vs South Africa Betting Tips: Nigeria to Win

Following a share of points in a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea on the opening day of the group stage, Nigeria showcased an exceptional response by securing back-to-back victories over the tournament host Ivory Coast with a 1-0 triumph, repeating the same result against Guinea to claim the second spot in Group A.

The defensive strength, paired with the outstanding guidance of Ademola Lookman, has brought the Super Eagles tantalizingly close to their seventh appearance in a major continental final, as the Bergamo striker first stunned Cameroon with a brace before sending Angola packing with a decisive strike just days later.

Still unbeaten in the tournament and entering here unscathed between the posts in four straight contests, coach Jose Peseiro relies on Napoli's talisman Victor Osimhen to provide support to his Serie A compatriot, aiming to overcome the semifinal hurdle and earn the opportunity to vie for a fourth AFCON crown.

The semifinal clash between South Africa and Nigeria in this year's edition adds an extra layer of fascination, considering that the Super Eagles last claimed the African Cup of Nations crown in 2013 in that very country, while the West African nation aims to replicate success from their previous face-off with Bafana Bafana, outsmarting them 2-1 in the AFCON 2019 quarterfinal.

Securing the right to contend for the AFCON trophy for Osimhen and co will demand a serious effort, especially considering that South Africa has already shown its teeth by executing a sensational elimination of tournament top-seed Morocco in the Round of 16 with a shocking 2-0 victory, thanks to strikes from Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena.

Nevertheless, Hugo Broos' squad undoubtedly comes in more depleted than Nigeria, given that Bafana Bafana had to endure the goalless drama for 120 minutes, involving extra time and penalties, to advance past Cape Verde in the quarterfinals, with Mamelodi Sundowns' goalkeeper Ronwen Williams making history as the first shot-stopper in AFCON to reject four penalty kicks.

Beyond overcoming their challenges within the usual 90-minute span on the road to the semifinals, the Nigerians have also relished an extra day of rest, and adding to that, considering that the Super Eagles have twice bested Bafana Bafana in the knockout stages of the African Cup - including a comfortable 2-0 triumph in the 2000 semis - we believe Peseiro's fresh troops can capitalize on all advantages to secure an AFCON final berth.