South Africa and Nigeria face-off in an Africa Cup of Nations semifinal in Bouake on Wednesday and both sides are packed with potential match-winners.
We look at three players from each team who could prove the difference.
NIGERIA
Ademola Lookman
The Atalanta winger has been Nigeria’s leading scorer at the Cup of Nations so far with three goals, all in the last two games. The 26-year-old poses a real threat as both a creator and scorer of goals and is coming off an excellent 18 months in Serie A, where he has netted 20 times for Atalanta. The English-born forward’s career has been something a slow burner after coming through the ranks at Charlton Athletic, getting his Premier League bow at Everton, where he scored on debut in a 4-0 win over Manchester City, and underwhelming spells with RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City. But since his move to Italy, he is a player reborn and three of his five international goals in 17 caps have come in the last two games.
Victor Osimhen
There is a doubt over the availability of the forward after it was announced he had a stomach issue on Monday, but Nigeria are hopeful their star striker will be able to play. He shot to prominence last season when his 26 Serie A goals led Napoli to their first league title in 33 years and while he has not quite been able to rediscover that form for them this campaign after injury problems, he has seven goals in 11 starts. Born in Lagos, he emerged as a junior at Wolfsburg in Germany before a loan at Belgian side Charleroi and then a good season in Ligue 1 with Lille. He moved to Napoli ahead of the 2020/21 campaign and has 57 goals in 80 starts in Serie A. He has also managed a very healthy 21 goals in 31 caps for Nigeria. Mobile, good in the air and with the ability to ghost into space, Bafana will have to keep a keen eye on him if he plays.
Stanley Nwabali
A surprise selection for Nigeria has turned into one of their heroes at the tournament with Chippa United goalkeeper Nwabali having kept four clean sheets in a row. The 27-year-old had a bit of a journeyman career back home with the likes of Enyimba, Wikki Tourists, Lobi Stars and Katsina United before joining Chippa in the 2022/23 season. He was not initially first choice and made only six appearances in the DStv Premiership, but has taken over that role this campaign. He has started 15 of Chippa’s 16 games, keeping seven clean-sheets as they have conceded only 16 goals. For a side that had the worst defensive record in the DStv Premiership last season, that is a huge turnaround. His only meeting so far with Mamelodi Sundowns, where the majority of the Bafana players come from, was a 2-0 home loss in August. Aubrey Modiba was on target to go with an own goal from Justice Chabalala.
SOUTH AFRICA
Percy Tau
It would be fair to say Tau has not quite hit the heights he would expect that this tournament in the ivory Coast but does have some ‘previous’ against Nigeria. He has not been bad, but such is his enormous quality and ability to take teams apart, has perhaps not met expectations. But a new day gives him a new chance to change that and the Al Ahly man has all the tricks in his locker to punish Nigeria. He scored against the Super Eagles in a famous 2-0 win in Uyo in 2017, what was then just his fifth appearances for the national team, and was also instrumental in a 1-1 draw a year later. But he will have some scares from the 2-1 quarterfinal loss at the 2019 Cup of Nations, so has plenty of motivation for revenge. His link-up play with Themba Zwane is key and if those two can get going, it will be a rough evening for the Super Eagles.
Evidence Makgopa
Striker Makgopa is inevitably judged on the goals he scores but he brings so much more than that to the Bafana side. As a targetman striker, his job is also to stretch the Nigeria defence, moving the centre-backs around and creating space for the likes of Tau, Zwane and Thapelo Morena to operate in. He did get a goal against Morocco and was denied by a brilliant save against Cape Verde, and will be crucial against a resolute Nigeria defence that has kept four clean-sheets in a row. His goal against Morocco was his first in a national team jersey for over two years and took his tally to four in 15 caps for Bafana. Good in the air, strong and with a rangy running style, he works hard for the team given a chance in and around the six-yard box, can be a clinical finisher.
Ronwen Williams
The star of the show when Bafana beat Cape Verde on penalties in the last round, Williams saved four spot-kicks in the shootout and also has a contender for Save of the Tournament in the 90 minutes. It was his fourth clean-sheet in a row too, and he continues to be the undisputed No 1 after almost 400 starts at SuperSport United before a move to Sundowns at the start of the 2022/23 campaign. He brings a calmness to the defence, is an excellent shot-stopper and also good under the high ball, and has the benefit of knowing the backline in front of him very well from Chloorkop. He will likely be a busy man against the Nigerians and if he has one of his outstanding days, Bafana have every chance of success. He will also want to make up for an error against the Super Eagles in the quarterfinals in 2019 after which Bafana bowed out.