Come Wednesday February 7th, 2024, the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa will file out at the magnificent Felix Houphoeut Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Côte d’ Ivoire to jostle for a place in the finals of the ongoing African Cup of Nations championship.

Both teams will renew their rivalry at same competition and at the same stage 24 Years ago, when Tijani Babangida scored a brace to silence the South African fans at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos as the 2000 AFCON Tournament co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.

Nigeria booked a place in the finals defeating South Africa 2-0, but failed to win the title as they lost on penalties to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

South Africa booked their place in the Semi Finals following a superlative performance from its Goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, who saved four spot kicks against the Cape Verdeans after a goalless encounter, which needed penalty kicks to decide who goes through to the last four to fave the Three Time AFCON Winner, Nigeri, who had earlier defeated the Palan Negras of Angola 1-0 in the first quarter final match of the tournament.

Nigeria and South Africa are familiar foes at the AFCON Tournament, but the former apartheid country has never won Nigeria at any AFCON tournament.

At the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia, Nigeria saw off Bafana Bafana 4-0 in the group stage, with Osaze Odemweingie scoring a brace, Augustine Okocha and Joseph Yobo also registering their names in the scorers sheet.

At the 2019 AFCON Tournament in Egypt, Nigeria defeated South Africa 2-1 courtesy of goals from Samuel Chukwueze and William Troost-Ekong for the Super Eagles to book a place in the last four.

Nigeria would be gunning to be one of the finalist, while South Africa will aiming to break the jinx of it losing against Nigeria At AFCON Tournament.

In the other Semi Final, host, Elephants of Côte d’ Ivoire will face the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Côte d’ Ivoire defeated Mali 2-1, while DR Congo defeated Guinea 3-1 to be in the last four.