AFCON 2023: South African Legend Predicts Easy Victory for Bafana Bafana Against Nigeria

• The Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash between Nigeria and South Africa is on the horizon
• A host of predictions have continued to stem from the camps of both competing Nations
• A former South African midfield star has predicted an easy victory for Hugo Broos' team

The excitement leading up to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-finals is palpable as Nigeria's Super Eagles prepare to face off against South Africa's Bafana Bafana.

The impending clash, which confirms who makes it to the finale amongst both teams, has got many football fans and stakeholders of both teams airing their take on the fixture.

The latest to weigh in on the match is Bafana Bafana legend, Jabu Mahlangu. The 43-year-old retired footballer has made a bold prediction, foreseeing a comfortable victory for Hugo Broos' men against Nigeria.

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Jabu Mahlangu on South Africa's clash against Nigeria

As reported by OwnGoal Nigeria, the former SuperSports United midfielder expressed his apprehension ahead of the game, revealing that he found the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde more intimidating than Jose Peseiro's team.

"In all honesty, the game against Cape Verde was a real challenge. They applied immense pressure throughout. Although they controlled much of the game, they didn't pose a significant threat. Despite our deep defensive line against them..."

"Yeah, facing Nigeria, I felt more wary of Cape Verde. Nigeria is welcome; we are going to beat them. We're not scared of Nigeria. Of course, we need to exercise caution against them," he concluded.

The sentiments of the former Bafana Bafana midfielder seem to mirror the growing confidence within the South African camp.

It's worth reminiscing that in the 2004 edition of the AFCON, where Mahlangu starred in midfield for Bafana Bafana against Nigeria, the Super Eagles emerged victorious with a resounding four-nil scoreline.

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Three Nigerian players crucial to winning vs South Africa

Sports Brief in another report highlighted three Nigerian players, crucial for Jose Peseiro’s side, to secure victory against Bafana Bafana.

This encounter marks the first meeting between the two teams since the 2019 edition of the AFCON.

Historically, Nigeria has been the favoured team against their South African counterparts. The three-time Cup of Nations winners have recorded seven victories and suffered two losses in their 14 previous meetings.