Nigeria vs. South Africa: Team news, broadcast options, preview for AFCON 2023 semifinal live on February 7, 2024

Topics: TV Schedules, Nigeria, South Africa, Africa Cup of Nations

The Super Eagles lock horns with Bafana Bafana in the penultimate stage in what should be a thrilling battle. Here is everything you need to know about this clash.

Where can I watch Nigeria vs. South Africa live on TV?

This game will be televised on beIN Sports USA and beIN SPORTS en Espanol for fans in the USA. Here is where the game will be televised in other countries:

UK: BBC Two, Sky Sports Premier League, and Sky Sports Main Event
Australia: beIN Sports 3
Canada: beIN Sports Canada and beIN SPORTS en Espanol

If you live elsewhere, please check our dedicated match page for further information on how to follow this game live on TV in your country.

Where can I stream Nigeria vs. South Africa live?

This game will be streamed on beIN SPORTS CONNECT for fans in the USA. Here is where the game will be streamed in other countries:

UK: Sky GO Extra and BBC iPlayer
Australia: beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Canada: beIN SPORTS CONNECT Canada

If you live elsewhere, please check our dedicated match page for further information on how to stream this game live in your country.

Preview

The Africa Cup of Nations semifinals are here! Four teams will battle it out on the pitch for a spot in the final, with continental powerhouses Nigeria facing South Africa in the earlier kick-off. A ticket to the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé awaits the winner of this tricky yet highly-anticipated 12 p.m. ET showdown.

Nigeria are the favorites to win AFCON 2023. While a disappointing opening-day result altered the expectations, the Super Eagles have gone from strength to strength since drawing 1-1 against an impressive Equatorial Guinea.

However, the three-time AFCON winners have yet to hit their stride in attack. Despite boasting one of the most star-studded forwards in the continent, including African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, José Peseiro's side have only scored more than one goal in a single game on one occasion — their 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the round of 16.

On the flip side, Nigeria have been impeccable defensively, conceding only one goal all campaign, with that coming in their opening fixture. This served them well in the knockout stage, keeping clean sheets against Cameroon in the round of 16 and against Angola in the quarterfinals.

Ademola Lookman has been the hero of Nigeria in the knockout stage, scoring all three goals for his country since qualifying from Group A. This includes a brace against the Indomitable Lions and a 41st-minute winner against Palancas Negras in the last eight.

However, the Super Eagles have not made the Africa Cup of Nations final since 2013 when they last won this coveted trophy. Defensive prowess in a knockout competition is a tremendous upside but the continental giants must rely on something other than Lookman in the final third and will need to improve in attack for this game.

South Africa, on the other hand, reached the semifinal stage of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in over two decades following a dramatic penalty shootout with Cape Verde, one that will be remembered forever.

The two nations played out a goalless draw after 120 minutes of action, with South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams grabbing all the headlines. The 32-year-old shot-stopper saved all but one of Cape Verde's five spot kicks, including the first three in a row, while also guessing right for even the one penalty he conceded.

And with that, Bafana Bafana returned to the penultimate stage of AFCON for the first time since 2000 and will be aiming to reach the final for the first time since 1998. However, the goal is to lift the title for the first time since 1996 but before they can contemplate that, Hugo Broos' side must first overcome Nigeria.

Beating a continental powerhouse like the Super Eagles will not be easy but Bafana Bafana are no strangers to this. Many tipped them to crash out in the round of 16 after drawing Morocco in the knockout stage and yet they pulled off a fantastic 2-0 victory over the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinalists.

Evidence Makgopa scored the opening goal before Teboho Mokoena's outstanding 95th-minute free kick goal sealed the victory. However, that was one of only two victories South Africa have achieved in normal time, with the other being a 4-0 triumph over Namibia.

Unlike the Nigerians, the South Africans have failed to score in all but two of their five matches. This is an area for improvement if they wish to beat Osimhen and Co. to a spot in the final.

Team news

Nigeria: Victor Osimhen is suffering from abdominal discomfort and is thus a doubt for this game, sparking huge concerns. If the African Player of the Year is unable to feature, Terem Moffi or Kelechi Iheanacho could deputize. Meanwhile, Moses Simon, Ola Aina, and Calvin Bassey are all one yellow card away from being suspended for the final and should thus be careful.

South Africa: Bafana Bafana do not have concerns heading into this match. However, just like with Nigeria, a couple of their players are a booking away from suspension and they are Aubrey Modiba, Mothobi Mvala, and Grant Kekana.

Key stats

This will be the fourth encounter between these two sides in this tournament.
Nigeria have beaten South Africa in their previous three encounters in AFCON, scoring eight and conceding only once.
The last time Bafana Bafana made the semifinal stage was in 2000 and the team they met in the penultimate stage was the Super Eagles, losing 2-0.
Nigeria have kept four clean sheets in a row and could go five consecutive AFCON games without conceding for the first time since March 1982.
Likewise, South Africa have kept four clean sheets in a row.
Despite failing to score in three of their five matches, Hugo Broos' side have outscored fellow semifinalists Ivory Coast (5) and are level with DR Congo and Nigeria on goals scored (six each).