Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George has named his starting line-up for tonight’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
The Super Eagles will start the game with the 4-3-3 formation.
As expected, Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali will start in goal ahead of the duo of Maduka Okoye and Olorunleke Ojo.
Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey will operate from the right and left-back positions.
Wilfred Ndidi, who will captain the team on the night, will pair West Bromwich Albion’s Semi Ajayi in central defence.
Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru will operate from the midfield.
A member of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Adamawa State died during the penalty shootouts of the match between Nigeria and South Africa of Wednesday evening.
It was gathered Thursday morning that the youth corper, identified only as Samuel from Kaduna State, died just before the last kick that ensured Nigeria’s victory in the match.
A witness, who gave an account of the incident in a social media post, said: “We lost one Nigerian during our victory celebration over south Africa at our sports viewing center here in Numan.
“The corps member who is serving in Numan from Kaduna State fainted before the kick of the winning goal.
“He died before they could reach the hospital in Numan. May his soul rest in peace.”
The NYSC Coordinator in Adamawa State, Jingi Dennis, said he was awaiting greater details of the incident.
The coordinator said in a conversation Thursday morning: ”I received the news of his death last night. I hope to have more details today.
“According to his colleagues who went with him to watch the match, the late corps member told the people around him that he did not like watching penalty shootout. He then bowed his head and all of a sudden, he collapsed.
”He was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan by the doctor.”
South Africa’s head coach Hugo Broos feels his side played better against Nigeria in Wednesday’s semi-final encounter which they lost 2-4 on penalty kicks.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Bafana Bafana came back from a goal down to take the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) game to extra time.
Reacting to their defeat, Broos explained that his side played much better and deserved to win the game.
“Football can be hard sometimes, when you look at the performance of my team today (Wednesday), and then there were the penalty kicks. Then you lose the penalty shootout and you are not in the finals.
“It’s hard to accept that, because we played a very good game today. I think we were the best team in the first half, we got the best chances, Nigeria didn’t have any chance.
“In the second half, they had few chances which resulted in a goal and we changed something tactically, and we came back,” he said.
He insisted that his team created more chances, adding that if they had scored, they would have been in the final and not Nigeria.
The Belgian however hailed his team for what has been a great tournament for them.
This evening, two formidable defences will square off in Nigeria vs South Africa to determine which team advances to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The Super Eagles defeated Angola in a close match to go to the semi-finals of the AFCON, conceding just one goal during the tournament.
However, goalie Ronwen Williams saved four penalties to help Bafana Bafana defeat Cape Verde in a penalty shootout, matching Nigeria’s record of four straight clean sheets.
Kick-off time and venue
Nigeria vs South Africa is scheduled for a 6 pm Nigerian time kick-off today, Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
The match will take place at Stade de la Paix in Bouake.
Nigeria Team News
Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen was taken off late on against Angola with an abdominal injury and he did not join the rest of the squad in flying out to Bouake on Monday evening.
The Super Eagles later confirmed that he had been passed fit to link up with his teammates the day before the game.
Chippa United chairman Siviwe Mpengesi has said that he will be fully behind the Super Eagles over Bafana Bafana of South Africa when both sides meet this evening in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) semi-final encounter at the Stade Bouaké in Cote d’Ivoire.
In a statement by the club, Mpengesi also said that he will be backing Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who plays for Chippa United in South Africa.
The 27-year-oldhas been a revelation and one of the standout goalkeepers at the AFCON.
The former Wikki Tourists of Bauchi goalkeeper was instrumental in guiding coach Jose Peseiro tutored-side to the semi-finals of the biennial competition.
“As the chairman of Chippa United and a proud South African, I find myself in a unique position during the 2023 Afcon; in that, our very own Nigeria international goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been a revelation,” Mpengesi said in a statement.
He added: “His performance for the Nigeria national team has caught the eye of the globe, earning him and our club international acclaim.
“With Stanley’s rising profile and international attention it brings to Chippa United FC, the benefits have been nothing but positive.
“Therefore, I and Chippa United FC stand behind our player Stanley Nwabali and the Nigerian Super Eagles tomorrow (Wednesday) against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana. We wish the Super Eagles all the best.”
The Super Eagles will face the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in a semi final clash later today.
Both teams have been in excellent form so far, boosting arguably the best defences in the tournament.
The winner of this game would be considered favorites to win the tournament.
Here are some key matchups to look forward to in the Nigeria vs South Africa clash:
1. Percy Tau vs Ola Aina:
South Africa’s winger Percy Tau will face Nigeria’s versatile defender Ola Aina on the left wing today,l the battle is expected to be exciting to watch with both players excellent in 1v1 situations.
Ola Aina would be looking to keep the Bafana Bafana’s star player quiet this game.
2. Nwabali vs Williams (Goalkeepers):
Both goalkeepers have been excellent in the AFCON so far, keeping the most clean sheets in the tournament. They both have not conceded in four out of the five games they have played.
South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, went a step further with his heroics in South Africa’s penalty shoot-out victory over Cape Verde, saving four of five penalty kicks to take them to the next round..
Both Nwabali and Williams play in the South African League PSL, so they should have a fair knowledge of each other.
3. Hugo Broos vs José Peseiro
Both managers have had to tweak their formations and tactics in this tournament, Hugo Broos after losing 2-0 to Mali in the first game and Peseiro after a drab 1-1 draw against equatorial guinea.
Hugo Broos has won the AFCON in the past (Cameroon, 2017), so this is familiar terrain, and he may want to ride on that wave. Broos has found a way to keep the defence tight and grind out wins, even against favorites Morocco in the second round.
Peseiro promised Nigeria a semi-final spot which he has now delivered. In doing that, he has also found a way to get wins by changing tactics to a 3-4-3 which puts Nigeria’s best players on the field at the same time.
4. Fans (Nigerians vs South Africans)
Nigerians will be looking for payback after South African singer, Tyla beat four Nigerian musicians to a Grammy Award for best Global music performance.
South Africans will try to compound their victories though in the much anticipated Amapiano vs Afro beats ‘battle’.
The Lagos State Government has set up a mega viewing centre at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan for the Super Eagles African Cup of Nations semi-finals clash with South Africa on Wednesday.
The Onikan viewing centre is one of the 25 centres set up by the state government across the state to encourage residents to enjoy the best African football showpiece since it started on January 13 in Cote’D’Ivoire.
The clash with the Bafana Bafana at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake is the fourth tournament meeting, with the Eagles winning the three previous games.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said in a statement on Tuesday that it was important for the fans to watch the match as Lagos has the largest base of the team’s supporters
“Lagos, being the sports capital and the base of the largest supporters of the Super Eagles, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, deemed it fit to provide an opportunity for all fans to watch the match.
“Mr Governor expressed the hope that the national team will triumph in the match because the team has so far shown capacity and technical know-how to win,” Omotosho said.
The Lagos State Government has set up a mega viewing centre at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan ahead of the Super Eagles African Cup of Nations semi-finals clash with South Africa on Wednesday.
The Onikan viewing centre is one of the 25 centres set up by government across the State to encourage residents to enjoy the best African football showpiece since it started on January 13 in Cote’D’Ivoire.
Here is a full list of the 25 viewing centres in Lagos
1. Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan 2. Agege Stadium, 3. Abesan Sports Centre,
The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation has denied possible threats on Nigerians living in or visiting the nation, while urging them to remain calm ahead of the CAF African Cup of Nations semi-finals match between Nigeria and South Africa.
The department announced this following the statement issued by the Nigeria High Commission in South Africa on Monday
The Nigerian High Commission, in an advisory on Tuesday, urged Nigerians living in South Africa to be watchful.
“Nigerian community to be watchful of their utterances, be mindful of where they choose to watch the match, especially in public places, and refrain from engaging in loud, riotous or provocative celebrations should the Super Eagles win the match,” the statement reads in parts.
The High Commission based its advisory on “potentially inflammatory online comments made by a section of South African citizens against Nigerians living in the host country,” adding that the comments were “largely influenced” by the upcoming AFCON clash on Wednesday, February 7 (today).
In its reaction, South Africa’s DIRCO said it doesn’t agree with the Nigerian High Commission, stating that the country poses “no threat to Nigerian citizens,” BBC reports Tuesday.
DIRCO further noted that the High Commission’s advisory “seems to create alarm and unnecessary tension” between citizens of both nations.
The statement reads: “We are confident that the sports-loving nation of South Africa poses no threat to Nigerian citizens, and we do not agree with the apprehension expressed by the High Commission.
“The advisory is regrettable because it seems to create alarm and unnecessary tension between the citizens of South Africa and Nigerians living in or visiting South Africa.”
Nigeria’s Super Eagles meet the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, Ivory Coast today by 6 p.m. (Nigerian time).
Today’s match will be the fourth in the tournament’s meeting, with the Eagles winning the three previous games.
