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Nigeria face South Africa in Bouake in a repeat of the 2000 Nations Cup semi-final, with the Super Eagles beating Bafana Bafana as the countries met for the first time at the tournament.<\/p>\n
The West Africans have the upper hand in meetings at Afcon, winning all three encounters – with the most recent of those a quarter-final tie in 2019.<\/p>\n
Playing in a record-extending 15th Afcon semi-final, Nigeria have impressed both in attack and in defence, where they have won their past four games without conceding a goal – their best run at a Nations Cup. <\/p>\n
With Frank Onyeka winning over his critics to provide a solid platform in central midfield, the likes of Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon have been liberated – with the latter creating the only goal of the quarter-final against Angola<\/a> for the former, who has scored half of Nigeria’s six goals.<\/p>\n “We’ve got a lot of faith in our defensive structure and in the final third we’re frightening,” defender Semi Ajayi told BBC Sport Africa.<\/p>\n Coach Jose Peseiro has repeatedly said a clean sheet will guarantee a win for his side given their prowess up front, where reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen has impressed with his non-stop running and pressing despite only scoring once.<\/p>\n Former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh has praised Osimhen’s ‘leadership and hunger’,, external<\/span><\/a> with the latter a key word for a team that – unlike some previous Super Eagles sides – looks fully focused. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n