The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face off against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, Ivory Coast, in a crucial match for a final spot in the ongoing African Cup of Nations.
Nigeria’s performance in the AFCON has brought the Super Eagles within reach of the final as they strive to secure their fourth AFCON trophy.
In the line-up against South Africa, the head coach, Jose Peseiro, only made one change in the squad that faced Angola, with Osayi-Samuel replacing Zaidu.
Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed Omar will officiate the match.
The Eagles line-up vs South Africa below:
- Stanley Nwabali
- Troost Ekong
- Semi Ajayi
- Calvin Bassey
- Ola Aina
- Frank Onyeka
- Alex Iwobi
- Osayi-Samuel
- Ademola Lookman
- Moses Simon
- Victor Osimhen
Follow our live updates:
88′
Here comes the VAR verdict. NO GOAL for Nigeria due to a foul in the build-up play.
87′
Hold on! There’s a VAR review to see whether there was an infringement in the build up to the goal. The referee is checking now. The Nigeria players aren’t happy.
85′
2 – 0
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) scores as he latches on to a pass inside the penalty box and fires a perfect low strike, which goes inside the left post.
84′
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) dribbles into the box, but Ronwen Williams is quick enough to come off his line and stop him.
82′
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) fouls an opponent. At least that’s what referee Amin Mohamed Omar signals.
82′ Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) fouls an opponent. At least that’s what referee Amin Mohamed Omar signals.
82′ Teboho Mokoena (South Africa) makes an overly-aggressive challenge and Amin Mohamed Omar blows his whistle for a foul.
81′ Stanley Nwabili (Nigeria) has picked up a minor injury, but it looks like he will be able to continue.
80′ Stanley Nwabili (Nigeria) is clearly asking for some medical attention with his painful gestures. The extent of his injury is yet to be discovered.
79′ Percy Tau (South Africa) sends the ball into the penalty area from a free kick a few yards outside the box. The cross is good, but the goalkeeper shows himself in a good light as he leaps high to intercept the ball.
79′ An opponent rises to his feet after being downed by Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria). Amin Mohamed Omar saw the sliding tackle and blows for a foul. South Africa have a free kick.
Cooling break…
76′ Hugo Broos decides to make a substitution. Siyanda Xulu will be replaced by Mihlali Mayambela (South Africa).
75′ Evidence Makgopa (South Africa) lets fly with a decent effort from the edge of the box that flashes just wide of the right post. The ball goes out of play and Nigeria will have a goal kick.
72′ A pass by Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) ends up in no man’s land, and the attacking effort comes to an end. The ball has crossed the sideline. South Africa are taking a throw-in.
71′ Calvin Bassey (Nigeria) attempts to send over a cross in order to find one of his teammates, but an opposition defender averts the danger by intercepting the effort.
71′ A cross from a mid-range free kick, taken by Nigeria, is intercepted by one of the defenders.
70′ Mothobi Mvala (South Africa) brings his opponent down with a tackle and Amin Mohamed Omar blows his whistle for a foul. Nigeria are awarded a free kick. Let’s see what they create from this.
68′ Percy Tau (South Africa) sends a screamer well wide of the right post from the edge of the box. The ball goes out of play and Nigeria will have a goal kick.
67′ 1 – 0 GOAL! William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) takes a real chance, but his low driven penalty into the middle of the net fools Ronwen Williams in goal.
66′ William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) is heading towards the penalty spot to take it.
64′ Mothobi Mvala (South Africa) knocks his opponent down with an over-the-top tackle. No point in arguing there. Nigeria will take a penalty kick.
63′ Jose Peseiro has decided to make a change. Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria) replaces Alex Iwobi.
62′ Substitution. Moses Simon is replaced by Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).
61′ Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) jumps into a tackle and Amin Mohamed Omar signals a foul.
61′ A poor attempt from the edge of the box. Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) dragged a first-time shot well wide of the right post.
60′ Moses Simon (Nigeria) sends a cross into the box, but the opposition’s defence clears the ball away to eliminate the danger.
59′ Amin Mohamed Omar blows his whistle. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) commits a foul after dangerous play.
57′ He should have done better. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) is afforded space to connect with a Bright Osayi-Samuel cross, but his header from the centre of the box flies well over the crossbar. The ball is off of the pitch and it’s a goal kick for South Africa.
56′ The players claim that Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) handled the ball and it seems they are right.
55′ The corner from Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) is cleared away by the defence.
55′ Moses Simon (Nigeria) fails to send a pass into the box as his effort is cut out. The ball is out of play. A goal-scoring opportunity from a corner for Nigeria.
54′ Percy Tau (South Africa) unleashes a shot, but his effort is poor and floats well wide of the right post.
53′ The corner from Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) is hurriedly cleared.
53′ Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) races towards goal but the defender gets back well to make a challenge. The ball is out of play and the linesman points at the corner flag. Corner to Nigeria.
52′ Themba Zwane (South Africa) trips an opponent with a slide tackle. Amin Mohamed Omar stops the game and he could give him a card, but eventually decides on just a warning.
51′ The corner from Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) is intercepted by the defence.
51′ An attempted cross from Moses Simon (Nigeria) is cleared. Nigeria force a corner. They send men into the box.
49′ Semi Ajayi (Nigeria) tries to find Moses Simon, but he puts too much power on the through ball. The ball goes out of play and South Africa will have a goal kick.
47′ Ola Aina (Nigeria) attempts to find the head of one of his teammates with a promising cross into the box, but a defender outjumps the attackers and averts the threat.
46′ The second half has just started.
45+3′ Amin Mohamed Omar blows his whistle to signal the end of the first-half action.
45+2′ Teboho Mokoena (South Africa) sends a long ball across the pitch, but it misses its target. The ball is off of the pitch and it’s a goal kick for Nigeria.
45+1′ There will be a minimum of 2 min. of added time.
45′ The corner lands on the head of Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) in the middle of the box and he tries to guide his header into the far right corner, but it’s misjudged and goes well wide of the right post. The ball goes out of play, and South Africa will have a goal kick.
44′ Ola Aina (Nigeria) sends a lofted cross into the penalty area. Unfortunately for him, the opponent’s defence deals with his cross comfortably and intercepts it. The referee points to the corner flag and Nigeria will take a corner.
39′ Percy Tau (South Africa) takes the corner, but the goalkeeper jumps and gathers the ball.
39′ Evidence Makgopa (South Africa) finds himself in space on the edge of the box and smashes a glorious-looking effort toward the right side of the goal, but Stanley Nwabili thwarts him with a great two-handed save. The referee points to the corner flag. It’s a corner to South Africa.
37′ Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) shoots from the edge of the penalty area. The ball travels low towards the middle of the target, but Ronwen Williams easily deals with the threat.
35′ Sphephelo Sithole (South Africa) didn’t manage to convert the resulting corner kick into a goal. He produced a header from a dangerous position inside the box, but his attempt went well wide of the right post. The ball goes out of play and Nigeria will have a goal kick.
34′ There’s an opportunity for Percy Tau (South Africa) to deliver the ball into the box from a corner.
34′ Aubrey Modiba (South Africa) attempts a long crossfield pass, but the defence does well to intercept the ball. The ball goes out of play. South Africa are awarded a corner kick.
31′ It’s time for the cooling break for the players to take on some fluids. It’s hot out there!
South Africa in advantage with a ball possession of 59% to Super Eagles’ 41%
30′ Cooling break!
29′ Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) should know this behaviour is beyond the rules. He was too careless with his challenge and left Amin Mohamed Omar no option but to blow his whistle.
28′ Percy Tau (South Africa) quickly picks up the rebound and drills the ball towards the middle of the goal. The opponent’s goalkeeper pulls off a comfortable save to deny him.
27′ Surely that’s handball by one of the Nigeria players in the box, but the referee just waves play on!
26′ Evidence Makgopa (South Africa) is penalised for a foul. Amin Mohamed Omar had a clear view and blows his whistle.
25′ Semi Ajayi (Nigeria) finds himself some space around the penalty spot and leaps high to meet the free kick. He tries to put his header into the middle of the goal, but Ronwen Williams keeps it out.
23′ Evidence Makgopa (South Africa) carelessly slides into the feet of his opponent and he’ll be lucky to avoid punishment. Amin Mohamed Omar blows for the foul but keeps his cards in his pocket on this occasion. Nigeria earn a free kick which could lead to a goal-scoring opportunity.
22′ Onyeka fouled, and Lookman took the free kick for Nigeria.
19′ Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) tackles a bit over-zealously, and Amin Mohamed Omar blows for a foul.
18′ Sphephelo Sithole (South Africa) commits an ugly challenge. The referee sees it and immediately blows his whistle.
16′ A run and shot from the edge of the box by Sphephelo Sithole (South Africa) causes Stanley Nwabili little worry as it’s towards the middle of the goal. Easy save.
15′ Amin Mohamed Omar blows his whistle as William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) used excessive force in the tackle during an attack.
14′ Moses Simon (Nigeria) looks to break free, but an opposing player clears the ball away. The linesman signals a throw-in for Nigeria.
13′ Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) manages to dispossess his opponent of the ball, but he commits a foul in the process, and the referee blows his whistle.
7′ Referee Amin Mohamed Omar sees the trip by Bright Osayi-Samuel (Nigeria) and doesn’t hesitate to blow his whistle.
5′ Ola Aina (Nigeria) looks to break free, but his touch lets him down, and he loses the ball. The ball is off of the pitch and it’s a goal kick for South Africa.
3′ Throw-in for Nigeria in their own half.
1′ The first half has just begun.
