Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering sports and football.
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – A pleasant day to you and welcome to Legit.ng’s coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 semifinal match featuring the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the Stade Bouake in Ivory Coast.
The outcome of today’s (Wednesday, February 7) game culminates in the final on Sunday, February 11.
Both teams have battled it out a couple of times at AFCON, with the Super Eagles edging South Africa 2-1 in the quarterfinals when they last met at the 2019 tournament in Egypt.
Follow all the updates here:
Kindly refresh the page for fresh updates.
Super Eagles vs South Africa: Jubilation in Nigeria
Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Nigeria beat South Africa in the semifinals of the AFCON 2023 on Wednesday, February 7.
The victory prompted celebrations in Nigeria.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Iheanacho sends Nigeria to AFCON 2023 final
Leicester City forward, Iheanacho, scores Nigeria’s last penalty to send the final of the AFCON 2023.
Iheanacho beat Williams in goal for the South Africans with a fantastic kick.
4-2 it ends in Bouake!
Nigeria vs South Africa: Bafana Bafana scores
Bafana Bafana scores.
It’s 3-2 now after the South African player picks his spot well.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Ekong nets brilliantly
Ekong scores.
Nigeria on the brink. 3-1 to the Super Eagles.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Nwabali saves
Nwabali saves a South Africa kick.
Makgopa distraught. Nigeria stil leads.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Aina misses
Aina missed Nigeria’s third kick.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Bafana Bafana scores first
Bafana Bafana scores their first penalty. It’s 2-1 now.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Omeruo scores
Omeruo scores for Nigeria. Super Eagles leads 2-0.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Mokoena misses
Mokoena misses for South Africa.
Nigeria vs South Africa: The lottery of penalty shoot-out starts
Moffi goes first for Nigeria.
He scores.
Nigeria vs South Africa: It’s all over in Bouake
The referee sounds his final whistle. The match goes to penalties.
At this point, it is a nervy moment for everybody.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Super Eagles with their last change
Bright Osayi-Samuel comes off with 2013 AFCON winner, Kenneth Omeruo coming on.
Perhaps, coach Peseiro made the change with penalties in sight.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Red card for Bafana Bafana
South Africa are one man down.
Nigerian attacker, Moffi, is fouled just from outside the box.
The referee checks VAR and issued a red card to Grant Kekana. About 5 minutes remaining in this match.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Peseiro makes a massive call
Super Eagles coach, Peseiro, brings off Osimhen.
Terem Moffi of OGC Nice replaces the Serie A star.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Osimhen attempts a header
Second half of extra time is on.
A quality delivery from Ola Aina is met by Osimhen, but the striker couldn’t convert his header into a goal.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Extra time first half ends
It is the end of the first half of extra-time.
Still 1-1, through 105 minutes.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Another double change for Super Eagles
Peseiro has further tweaked his team.
The Portuguese tactician brings on Kelechi Iheanacho and Joe Aribo.
Frank Onyeka and Lookman come off.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Extra-time begins
The extra-time of the first semifinal game at AFCON 2023 has started.
It is Nigeria’s first extra-time taste in the tournament, but not South Africa’s.
It has been a very tough game for both teams, and you have to give it to them.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Full time in Bouake; extra-time to follow
It’s full-time in Bouake.
The game goes into extra-time.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Bafana Bafana with a big miss
Mokoena tries a free-kick from about 30 yards out. Nwabali saves well, and a South African player blazes over.
The South African bench in disbelief.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Bafana Bafana equalises
Bafana Bafana have equalised.
Teboho Mokoena scores from the spot. 1-1 now. And it’s 90 minutes on the clock.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Nigeria scores; Bafana Bafana gets a penalty
Dramatic scenes in Bouake as Osimhen scores via a good team move but the video assistant referee (VAR) calls the referee to check a Nigerian foul.
The referee gives a penalty to the South Africans.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Second cooling break
The teams have gone for another cooling break.
75 minutes on the clock.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Substitutions for Bafana Bafana
Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, makes his first change.
Two players come off.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Bafana Bafana with a very good chance
Makgopa with a good chance in the 74th minute, but his shot slightly whistled off Nwabali’s post.
The South Africans are still behind.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Troost-Ekong scores
Troost-Ekong takes the resultant penalty and scores.
Nigeria had been a side on the ascendancy in this second half.
Interim captain, Troost-Ekong, puts the ball straight down the middle — the same strategy he deployed when he converted from 12 yards against host, Ivory Coast. 67 minutes on the clock, and Nigeria leads.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Osimhen wins a penalty
The Nigerian starman, Osimhen, has won a penalty for his side.
Osimhen was fouled in the box, with the referee having no option but to point to the spot.
Nigeria makes double change
Coach Peseiro has decided to make the first change of the match.
Simon Moses and Alex Iwobi are off while Alhassan Yusuf and Samuel Chukwueze are on.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Second half begins
The second half is underway in Bouake.
The Super Eagles made a lively start but were well-contained by the South Africans.
Nigeria vs South Africa: First half ends
Egyptian official, Amin Mohamed Omar, blows the whistle for the end of the first half of the encounter.
It is still a stalemate in Bouaké.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Nwabali with a good save
Super Eagles shot-stopper, Stanley Nwabali, makes a good save from a goal attempt from Evidence Makgopa.
Nwabali parries the ball for a corner to the Bafana Bafana.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Cooling break
Both teams have gone for a cooling break — after 30 minutes of play.
The result of the AFCON 2023 knockout match is still goalless, with Bafana Bafana looking the more dangerous side.
South Africa have had shots on target but none has proven venomous.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Super Eagles wins freekick in dangerous area
Nigeria’s Frank Onyeka was brought down in a dangerous area.
Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong are options to take the ball. Lookman takes the ball, but the attack, tame, was easily saved by South Africa’s goalkeeper, Rowen Williams.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Osimhen injury scare
Victor Osimhen, who was carried off on a stretcher during Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Angola with abdominal pain and was a doubt for this last-four clash, clutched his stomach.
The Napoli man suffered the discomfort after a Super Eagles attack.
However, minutes later, the 25-year-old carried on.
Nigeria vs South Africa kicks off
The Nigeria vs South Africa AFCON 2023 match has kicked off.
The Super Eagles, playing in their traditional green, got us underway.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Team out on the pitch
The competing teams are out on the pitch, with the national anthem of both teams recited.
Nigeria’s anthem was sung first; then the Bafana Bafana.
AFCON 2023: Nigeria vs South Africa match online streaming
Nigeria versus South Africa match can be streamlived via AfroSport TV.
Check out the Facebook link here.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Bafana Bafana starting XI released
South Africa’s starting XI: Williams (goalkeeper, captain), Kekana, Zulu, Mvala, Modiba, Mokoena, Zwane, Sithole, Mudau, Makgopa, Tau.
Nigeria vs South Africa: Super Eagles starting XI out
Coach Jose Peseiro has named his starting XI for the AFCON 2023 semifinal match against South Africa.
The Super Eagles boss fielded a strong team which included reigning African football king, Victor Osimhen.