Who: Nigeria vs South Africa
what: CAF AFCON 2023 Semi-finals
when: Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 17:00 GMT
where: Stade Bouake, Ivory Coast
Nigeria have major concerns over the fitness of African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen ahead of Wednesday's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against South Africa.
The Super Eagles striker was absent from the team's flight from Abidjan to Bouake on Monday after complaining of abdominal discomfort.
The 25-year-old had previously featured in the competition for the team, scoring 21 goals in 32 international appearances.
“Team medics have confirmed that he is under close observation along with the remaining members of the medical team in Abidjan,” Nigeria said on social media platform X on Tuesday.
“If cleared by tomorrow, he will join the rest of the team by 5pm.” [Wednesday] morning. “
Team members traveled from Abidjan to Bouake today on a 10pm Ivory Coast flight. However, Osimhen did not participate in the expedition due to discomfort in his abdomen. Team medics confirmed that he remained with members of the medical team and was under close observation. pic.twitter.com/G39LqaKcVA
— 🇳🇬Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) February 5, 2024
Osimhen was the top scorer in Serie A for last season's champions Napoli, but he has scored just one goal in five games so far in this tournament.
However, after the 2-0 win against Cameroon in the round of 16, his performance and work rate were praised by coach Jose Peceiro as “excellent”.
Peseiro added that the striker's ability off the ball is just as good as his ability to score goals.
“No one can win the game alone. Everyone has to play. But he is a good example,” the coach said.
For Nigeria, this is a record-tying 16th semi-final appearance in the 20th AFCON tournament.
The Pharaohs have played in 26 tournaments, but only Egypt, who have won the tournament seven times, have appeared in as many semi-finals.
Wednesday's match against Bafana Bafana will be a repeat of the semi-final in 2000, which Nigeria won 2-0 in Lagos.
Nigeria won the last of the three titles in 2013, while South Africa's only win was in 1996.
𝙏𝙊 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙀𝙈𝙄-𝙁𝙄𝙉𝘼𝙇𝙎! 🔥
4 teams. I have one aim. ✨#TotalEnergyAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/YGNyqzUsDc
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 3, 2024
Although South Africa lost 2-0 to Mali in the group stage, they have improved in preparation for this tournament.
Bafana Bafana finished second in their group after a goalless draw with Tunisia in their final match, with the 2004 finalists eliminated.
Morocco, favorites to win the tournament, won in the round of 16. South Africa coach Hugo Bruce admitted that the other victory, a penalty shootout victory over Cape Verde in the quarter-finals, was his team's worst performance of the tournament, believing that his players' nerves had won out.
Brus himself is no stranger to AFCON success, and he certainly seems to be feeling the Midas feeling at the tournament.
The former Belgium international won the continental title with Cameroon in 2017, taking a team that had little chance before the start to the championship podium, and now, seven years later, besting an equally lackluster South Africa. Leading to 4.
Before the tournament, the Blues, who signed a five-year contract in 2021, won 11 out of 22 games. Initially, they only used players under the age of 26 to rebuild the team, but the young players failed to show their potential. , had no choice but to abandon the plan.
But even if the statistics belie his lucky escape, his Nations Cup record is impressive.
His Cameroon team reached the finals in 2017. It came after young goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa made a superb last-gasp save to deny hosts Gabon the winning goal which hit the post in the dying minutes.
Cameroon defeated Senegal in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals, then defeated Ghana and Egypt to win the championship.
With Bafana Bafana advancing to the semi-finals, the Blues' Nations Cup record now stands at five wins, five draws and one loss in 11 games across the two competitions.
South Africa were lucky to see off their game against Cape Verde on Saturday after goalkeeper Ronwen Williams made a series of incredible saves in the post-match shootout. The stopper also pushed Blue Sharks' late shot over the bar with seconds left in regular time.
Many believed Osimhen's Round of 16 clash with Cameroon and Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana would be one of the highlights of the tournament. However, Onana was placed on the bench for the second consecutive game.
All of Nigeria and neutral countries around the world will be hoping that a head-to-head fight between Williams and Osimhen is not ruled out by Osimhen's medical concerns.
First training session in Bouake's lycée technique. Semi-finals loading… #TotalEnergyAFCON2023 #afcon2023 #BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/HmoomTmXTE
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) February 5, 2024
shape
Nigeria defeated Ivory Coast in the group stage and remains undefeated in this tournament with two draws.
Cameroon won 2-0 in the round of 16, but Angola lost 1-0 in the quarterfinals. This means the Super Eagles have not conceded a goal since their tournament-opening draw against Equatorial Guinea.
Similarly, South Africa's strength is their defense, and they have not conceded a goal since losing their first match to Mali.
The penalty victory against Cape Verde in the quarter-finals will have taken a toll on Bafana Bafana, especially after the decisive victory against Morocco in the Round of 16.
Nigeria: DWDWW
South Africa: DWDWW
Nigeria team news
Osimhen's abdominal discomfort has affected his preparations for the semi-finals and all eyes will be on whether and when the Super Eagles striker leaves Abidjan to join Bouake's team.
Predicted XI: Nwabari, Ajayi, Troost-Ekkon, Bassey, Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Sanusi, Simon, Lookman, Osimhen.
South Africa team news
South Africa have no new injury complaints ahead of the semi-finals. Fatigue will be the biggest concern after the penalty shootout win against Cape Verde. Whether that will influence Bruce to make any changes remains to be seen.
Predicted XI: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Mvala, Modiba, Mokoena, Sihor, Morena, Zwane, Tau, Makgopa.
