Nigeria vs South Africa prediction, odds, expert football betting tips and best bets for AFCON semifinal – Sporting News
As one of just two pre-tournament favorites left standing at the utterly chaotic 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria hope to push themselves towards a return to glory as they meet South Africa in the semifinals in Bouake.
Since winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, stopping a 19-year drought, the Super Eagles have reached this final four stage just once, finishing third in 2019. It has been an unceremonious fall from grace, struggling to inspire talent to an on-field payoff while falling short on both continental and global stages.
Yet now back in the AFCON semifinals and the bracket opening up as other favorites drop like flies around them, Nigeria now have a golden opportunity to win a trophy that would lay the groundwork for an establishment back amongst the elite African football nations.
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South Africa, however, can taste an opportunity for the latest upset in a tournament laden with shocking results. Bafana Bafana achieved an impressive quarterfinal win over Cape Verde, who themselves looked ripe for a surprising deep run, and prior to that knocked out both Tunisia and Morocco, a pair of tournament favorites.
USA: Click here to see the latest odds for Nigeria vs South Africa and bet AFCON matches
The Super Eagles entered this tournament with their AFCON prospects bleak at best, but have managed to overcome every obstacle and emerge in the semifinals having displayed impressive moxie at multiple stages.
South Africa, meanwhile, have weathered countless storms, surviving three consecutive attacking onslaughts from Tunisia, Morocco, and Cape Verde while ultimately conceding just one goal. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has made a solid case for the tournament’s Golden Glove, but in truth, his opponents have also faltered at every turn.
So which Nigeria side will show up? The pre-tournament Super Eagles were exactly the type of venom-less side that would fall to this South Africa team, but at AFCON they have finished chances at a much higher rate. In their current form, they should manage what others have failed to do against South Africa, and achieve another gritty result.
Both these teams have looked bright before halftime, each looking to keep their opponent in check while picking their spots up front. Yet it’s been the Super Eagles who have consistently looked to grab and early lead and sit on it.
Four of Nigeria’s six goals this tournament have come before the break, while putting up at least 0.46 xG in all but one of their opening halves. In their group opener against Equatorial Guinea they really came out firing, and while it’s cooled off since then, they have still ripped off over half their total shots in the first 45 minutes. Victor Osimhen has been bright throughout despite just sitting on one goal, but over half his shots have come before the break.
The entirety of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will be televised in the United States by beIN Sports, with both English-language and Spanish-language broadcasts available. This semifinal will be broadcast on television, with both channels available to stream on Fubo USA.
The same goes for Canada, with both beIN Sports and beIN Sports en Espanol available to stream on Fubo Canada.
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In the UK, this match is available on both BBC Two and Sky Sports, with streaming available on the dedicated platforms for both providers.
Kyle Bonn is a soccer content producer for The Sporting News.
