Nigeria's Tremendous Eagles will tackle South Africa's Bafana Bafana within the semi-finals of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Wednesday.
The match would be the fourth between Nigeria and South Africa at AFCON degree, with the Tremendous Eagles successful the earlier three by an combination rating of 8-1.
Nigeria will probably be eager to proceed their good successful streak towards South Africa at AFCON degree and the West African nation has high quality gamers to attain that.
The Guardian Sports activities appears to be like at three Tremendous Eagles gamers who may put a definitive finish to South Africa's dream of successful their second AFCON trophy…
Ademola Lookman in motion for Nigeria. Photograph: AFP
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy)
For South Africa's Bafana Bafana, the concern of Ademola Lookman will definitely be the start of knowledge as they’re already conscious of what the Atalanta winger is able to.
Lookman has proven he can destroy any protection after doing so in back-to-back video games, scoring towards Cameroon and Angola within the knockout phases.
Earlier than arising with the objectives, he had arrange Victor Osimhen to attain Nigeria's equalizer of their 1-1 draw towards Equatorial Guinea of their Group A opener on January 14.
The 26-year-old then hit the again of the online twice to assist the Tremendous Eagles beat Cameroon 2-0 within the spherical of 16, earlier than scoring the one objective in a 1-0 win over Angola within the quarter-final.
After scoring within the win over Angola, Lookman grew to become the fourth Nigerian footballer to attain three or extra objectives within the knockout rounds of a single AFCON version, breaking the report held by Odion Ighalo, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and the late Rashidi Yekini matched.
Many individuals around the globe anticipated Osimhen to make common appearances on the web for the Tremendous Eagles in Cote d'Ivoire, however with Lookman taking up that duty, his title has turn out to be the very first thing on the lips of Nigerians.
Nigerians at the moment are wanting as much as Lookman, who has produced good outcomes for each membership and nation this season, with a complete of 11 objectives and 5 assists for Nigeria and Atalanta, because the participant whose objectives will assist the Tremendous Eagles win their fourth AFCON win title.
Lookman, who has now scored 22 objectives in 56 appearances for Atalanta, along with 11 assists, is definitely able to destroying South Africa along with his velocity, expertise, dribbling and eye for objective.
Nigerian ahead Moses Simon runs with the ball through the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 spherical of 16 soccer match between Nigeria and Tunisia at Stade Roumde Adjia in Garoua on January 23, 2022. (Photograph by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP)
Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
Moses Simon has taken his recreation on the match to the following degree after being eliminated early within the second half of Nigeria's first group match towards Equatorial Guinea and left on the bench for the essential win towards hosts Ivory Coast within the second group match.
His cross ended up within the internet for Nigeria's 1-0 win towards Guinea-Bissau and he was additionally crucial for the group towards Cameroon.
He made a number of runs into Angola's penalty space, and one which earned the applause of just about everybody within the stadium was when he beat two Angolan gamers, however his shot at objective was blocked.
Simon created the right second that led to Nigeria's objective of the match. He was faster to a gradual ball from Zaidu Sanusi and his run into the penalty space, with a well-placed go for Ademola Lookman, was the second that pushed Nigeria into the semi-finals of the competitors.
The 29-year-old, who has featured in all 17 of FC Nantes' Ligue 1 matches in 2023/2024 and has been chosen within the beginning line-up in whole, can definitely assist Nigeria safe victory towards South Africa.
The Nigerian ahead has scored three objectives in Ligue 1 this season, whereas he’s additionally joint fifth for assists this season, having scored 4 objectives for his teammates at Nantes.
Victor Osimhen in motion for Nigeria through the AFCON 2019. Photograph: AFP
Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy)
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has stored his religion in Nigeria's Tremendous Eagles to go on and win the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast and can look to devour South Africa.
Osimhen definitely is aware of what he's speaking about because the dependable striker has continued to shine for each membership and nation within the 2023/2024 season regardless of selecting up an damage earlier this season.
Actually not one among Osimhen's finest tournaments for the Eagles by way of objective scoring, however the consideration the continent's finest participant has drawn to himself has made him a simple goal for groups on the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.
With only one objective thus far in 5 video games, that sums up the extent of barricades opponents are placing up towards the Napoli star.
Nevertheless, he’s essential for the Eagles within the sense that he attracts defenders to him and creates house for different attacking gamers to strike, as Lookman has been as much as currently.
He thought he had scored his second objective within the competitors when his highly effective header was too sizzling for the Angolan goalkeeper to push away.
Osimhen, the video assistant referee (VAR), confirmed he was marginally offside and the objective was disallowed, however South Africa will solely underestimate him at their peril.
The African Participant of the Yr for 2023 has scored seven objectives in 13 Serie A video games and has eight objectives and two assists in eighteen appearances for Napoli this season.
