Nigeria vs South Africa AFCON 2023 Semi Finals Predictions, Picks and Preview: Osimhen Injury Update

• South Africa and Nigeria square off in the semi-finals this coming Wednesday
• Bafana Bafana advanced to the last 4 after beating Cape Verde in a shootout
• The Super Eagles secured a spot in the AFCON semis after beating Angola 1-0

The stage is set for a blockbuster clash at Stade de la Paix this coming Wednesday.

South Africa will square off against Nigeria in a mouth-watering semi-final matchup in Bouake.

Read on as Sports Brief brings you a preview of this all-important AFCON showdown.

Nigeria vs. South Africa Preview

Form Guide

The Super Eagles will head into their clash against Bafana Bafana boasting a rich vein of form.

They have yet to lose in this year's AFCON, recording two wins and a draw in the group stage before beating Cameroon and Angola in the knockout rounds.

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South Africa, on the other hand, have recorded upset wins in the knockout stage, beating Morocco 2-0 in the Round of 16 and defeating Cape Verde in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals.

Nigeria have lost five of their last six semi-final games in the Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa last reached this stage of the tournament back in 2000, per The Standard.

Recent Head-to-Head Matchups

The Super Eagles have won seven of their last 14 meetings with Bafana Bafana, recording five draws and two losses during that period.

They last faced each other in the Africa Cup of Nations back in 2019, with Nigeria recording a dramatic 2-1 victory in the quarter-finals. William Troost-Ekong broke South African hearts, netting a late match-winner in the 89th minute.

Team News

Ademola Lookman has flourished in Nigeria's 3-4-3 set-up, scoring all of their three goals in the knockout rounds.

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There were some concerns about Victor Osimhen after he was substituted late against Angola due to injury.

The latest update hasn't been good for Nigeria fans as the striker failed to join the Super Eagles' trip to Bouake on Monday due to an abdominal issue.

Osimhen is now in a race against time to be fit for Wednesday's clash with South Africa.

Hugo Broos, on the other hand, has found the perfect formula when it comes to his side's defence. All of his defenders come from Mamelodi Sundowns, and that chemistry has worked wonders for Bafana Bafana.

They have not allowed a goal since their opening loss against Mali, recording clean sheets against Namibia, Tunisia, Morocco, and Cape Verde.

South Africa will be missing the services of Thapelo Maseko in the game against Nigeria after he suffered a hamstring injury in the quarters, per Supersport.

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Writer's Prediction

Expect a low-scoring contest between these two great defensive sides. The Super Eagles record a 1-0 victory to advance to the AFCON final.

Where to watch the game

All AFCON 2023 matches will air on Sports Premium, channel 252 or 246, on StarTimes as well as on StarTimes-ON app.

Williams ready for Nigeria clash

Sports Brief recently reported on Ronwen Williams embracing the challenge of Osimhen.

He starred in South Africa's win over Cape Verde, saving four of the five penalties he faced.

The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper also said they needed to prepare accordingly against Nigeria.