Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-06 06:39:04
Neil Tovey and Mark Williams, key figures in South Africa’s lone Africa Cup of Nations title victory, are expecting a tough match when Bafana Bafana meets the Super Eagles in the semi-finals. The match is set to be played in the central Ivory Coast city of Bouake on Wednesday, with the winner earning a spot in the February 11 final. While Nigeria has a strong track record against South Africa in the competition, Tovey and Williams believe that their team still has a chance.
Nigeria boasts a perfect past record against South Africa in the competition, with three victories. These include a 2-0 win in the 2000 semi-final, a 4-0 victory in a 2004 group match, and a 2-1 win in a 2019 quarter-final. Despite this, South Africa’s team, consisting of nine local players, one player based in Egypt, and another with a Portuguese second division club, is not without hope, according to Tovey and Williams.
Tovey, who captained the 1996 title-winning team, and Williams, who scored twice in the final against Tunisia, believe that South Africa will have to work hard to compete against Nigeria. “It is going to be very tough against Nigeria — a final before the final,” Tovey said in an interview. “We have suffered many defeats against them, but the tide is turning. In Bouake, we must not retreat into a defensive shell. South Africa must approach the match similarly to the game against Morocco — defend when necessary but also apply pressure.”
Despite being viewed as underdogs, South Africa has surprised many with victories in the tournament, including a 2-0 win against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in a last-16 encounter. Tovey praised the team for their organization and performance, particularly in the crucial final group match against Tunisia that ended in a 0-0 draw.
Williams also praised the team spirit of South Africa, highlighting the eight Mamelodi Sundowns players in the starting lineup. He noted that their familiarity with each other has contributed to the team’s success. While acknowledging the skill of the Nigerian team, Williams stressed that the mentality of the South African players will be key in the match.
Looking ahead, both Tovey and Williams believe that the Ivory Coast will emerge victorious in the later semi-final against the Democratic Republic of Congo. The match is set to determine which teams will compete in the final on February 11.
