Nigeria vs South Africa Prediction & Betting Tips (7 February)

The Super Eagles continue their almost faultless run. It's simple, since the first day when they conceded a draw against a surprising team from Equatorial Guinea 1-1, Osimhen's teammates have delighted their supporters with 4 victories without conceding a single pawn. With the best defense of the edition, Peseiro's men first dismissed Cameroon in the 8th 2-0, before shattering the Angolan dream in the quarter-finals 1-0. Like Victor Osimhen who is still silent in this CAN, Nigeria and his staff seem to have had the good idea of ​​putting the individuals, however numerous, aside to form a united eleven for which individual statistics only pass by. in the background. Even if the opposition against South Africa seems to be of the same ilk as the first matches of the final phase, the Nigerians will have the mission to ward off fate, being the African country which has lost the most in the semi-finals in the history of the CAN 8 defeats. They then hope to lift the trophy, 10 years after their 2013 victory in South Africa. 24 years later, South Africa returns to the last four of the CAN, against the same nation which eliminated it in 2000, with a score of 2 goals to 0.

It is a great surprise to find Bafana Bafana at this stage of the competition. After taking second place in their group for the benefit of Namibia and Tunisia, they created a shock by eliminating the Moroccan favorites in the round of 16 of the CAN 2-0. Then, it was at the end of the penalty shootout against Cape Verde that the South Africans validated their ticket for the semi-finals, notably thanks to the Williams goalkeeper on fire. Without really impressing, South Africa can now believe in a title that has eluded them for 25 years. The feat would be all the greater because it is one of the nations in the tournament which does not include any player playing in one of the five major championships. Despite a less than reassuring preparation, South Africa once again proves the madness of this competition, and even more so of this sport.

Before the competition, the Super Eagles deplored some forfeits and misunderstandings concerning the list of 23. Let us remember, however, that the usual selected Ndidi (Leicester, 53 sel) and Umar Sadiq (11 sel) withdrew (injured), just like the serial Bundesliga scorer Boniface (12 pawns including tax), replaced by Terem Moffi (Nice) who has still not played a single minute in this CAN. Apart from the pre-CAN absentees, Nigeria has a complete group, like the double scorer Lookman (Atalanta Bergamo) against Cameroon, who also did it again in 1/4 against Angola, becoming his nation's top scorer in 2024. Even if he doesn't score, Osimhen (Naples, 21 goals in 29 caps) shines with his movements and his weight on opposing defenses.

Victim of abdominal pain, he should still hold his place. Chukwueze (AC Milan), Simon (Nantes, 3 league goals this season) and Onyeka (Brentford) already starting in the quarter-finals should start this evening. Very present on the match sheets, Leicester striker Iheanacho (5 goals in the Championship) has still not played a single minute in this CAN (arrived injured).