AFCON 2023, semi-final: Nigeria vs South Africa - head-to-head history, records and stats
All you need to know about the head-to-head history of Nigeria vs South Africa as they prepare to meet in the Ivory Coast for the 2023 AFCON semi-final on Wednesday (7 February).
Football
Two of Africa’s greatest footballing nations come head to head on Wednesday (7 February) to battle it out for a place in the final of the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles have seen off fierce competition in the shape of Angola and Cameroon, whilst Bafana Bafana defeated Morocco and Cape Verde to reach the semi-finals.
Despite spending 30 years banned from the competition, due to the apartheid, South Africa has since emerged as a footballing powerhouse. They were crowned AFCON champions at their inaugural tournament in 1996, and went on to finish second and third in 1998 and 2000.
Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for the 2021 edition of the competition, and will be keen to make up for lost time this year.
Out of seven final appearances, Nigeria have been crowned AFCON champions on three occasions. The Super Eagles have also finished third on eight occasions, most recently in 2019.
It has now been over ten years since Nigeria last lifted the AFCON trophy.
With reigning champions Senegal and record holders Egypt both out of the competition, Nigeria boss José Peseiro will be eyeing up victory for his side.
Ahead of the much anticipated semi-final encounter, we’re taking a look back on the head-to-head history of Nigeria and South Africa.
When Bafana Bafana met The Super Eagles: What happened last time?
The two sides have come face to face 14 times, with the first fixture coming in 1992.
They last met at the 2019 edition of AFCON held in Egypt. Both sides qualified for the Round of 16, with Nigeria finishing second of Group B and South Africa finishing third in Group D.
Bafana Bafana met hosts Egypt in the Round of 16 and beat them 1-0, whilst the Super Eagles overcame Cameroon with a 3-2 victory thanks to a winning goal from Alex Iwobi. The sides then found themselves head-to-head in the quarter-finals, battling it out for a place in the final four.
A first-half goal from Samuel Chukwueze set Nigeria up nicely, before Bongani Zungu equalised with 20 minutes to play. However, it was the Super Eagles who emerged victorious as William Troost-Ekong netted a last-minute winner.
Nigeria went on to lose 2-1 to eventual champions Algeria in the semi-finals, but secured a third-place finish with a 1-0 win over Tunisia.
The quarter-final meeting was South Africa’s AFCON fixture for four years, following their failure to qualify for the 2021 edition of the competition.
Nigeria currently come out on top when it comes to head-to-head performance, having won 7 games, drawn 5 and lost just two.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 10: Nigeria celebrate after winning the 2013 Orange African Cup of Nations Final match between Nigeria and Burkina Faso from the National Stadium on Februay 10, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Manus van Dyk / Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Nigeria vs South Africa: Honours and appearances
Nigeria may have the better head-to-head record, but how do the two sides match up in the realm of world football?
Both teams have had their fair share of appearances at FIFA World Cups, the Olympics Games and the Africa Cup of Nations, so let's take a look at how their performance fare against one another.
AFCON
- Nigeria have been crowned AFCON champions on three occassions, finished second on four occasions and picked up third place eight times.
- South Africa have won AFCON just once. They have finished second on one occasion and taken third place also once.
FIFA World Cup
- Nigeria have never won the FIFA World Cup. Their best finishing came in 1994, 1998 and 2014 when they reached the Round of 16.
- South Africa have only appeared at the FIFA World Cup on three occassions, failing to make it out of the group stage each time.
- Both sides are currently goign through qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Olympic Games
- Nigeria took Gold for Football at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, and picked up Silver in 2008 at the Beijing Games. At Rio 2016, they finished third and won Bronze.
- South Africa have never picked up a medal for Football at an Olympic Games.
- Neither side have qualified for Paris 2024.
2023 AFCON Nigeria vs South Africa: Schedule, time and how to watch
Nigeria and South Africa go head-to-head on Wednesday (7 February) at Stade Bouaké in Bouaké, Ivory Coast.
The game is scheduled for a 17:00 local time kick-off, which is 17:00 GMT and 18:00 CET. The winner will then go on to face either Ivory Coast or DR Congo in the 2023 AFCON final on Sunday 11 February.
2023 AFCON, held in 2024, is available to watch live across Africa and the rest of the world. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) aims to make the tournament accessible on free-to-air TV across the continent.
Nigerian fans will be able to watch the match live on AfroSport, whilst those in South Africa can watch via Supersports.
For the UK & Ireland, Sky Sports will be broadcasting the match.