Three-time African champions Nigeria will rekindle their continental rivalry with South Africa in a highly-anticipated semi-final at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.
According to BBC, the West Africans have won all three of their previous meetings at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), have the better head-to-head record and are the highest-ranked side remaining in Ivory Coast.
Yet 1996 winners Bafana Bafana have already knocked out Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked side, and will aim to avenge the pain of past meetings with Nigeria when appearing in the last four for the first time since 2000 – when they were beaten 2-0 by the Super Eagles
The final will undoubtedly be on the minds of players and fans alike, but the relationship between these two nations has long transcended football into a full-blown, multifaceted rivalry spanning economics, music and migration.
Aljezeera report that the rivalry was on full display on Monday after South African popstar Tyla was announced inaugural winner of the best African music performance at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles over four Nigerian acts.
There were taunts from South Africans on social media and clapbacks from Nigerians, setting the stage for yet another chapter in the rivalry.
In the build-up to Wednesday’s semifinal, the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria felt the need to put out an advisory to Nigerian citizens living in South Africa. The release called for “good conduct” and said “should any provocations arise, they should not be reciprocated.”
In response, Pretoria chided the Nigerians on Tuesday, saying it was “a very unfortunate and regrettable statement” that “creates unnecessary alarm and tension
