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Team news
South Africa name their XI for the semi final, with the quarter final hero Ronwen Williams captaining the side.
SOUTH AFRICA XI: Williams, Kekana, Xulu, Mvala, Modiba, Mokoena, Sithole, Zwane, Mudua, Tau, Makgopa
Team news
Starting with Nigeria, who will be thrilled to have Victor Osimhen fit for this one.
He gets the nod in a stellar attacking line-up filled with Premier League stars, past and present.
Fulham’s Calvin Bassey also takes his place in defence.
NIGERIA XI: Nwabali, Aina, Ekong, Ajayi, Bassey, Osay-Samuel, Onyeka, Iwobi, Lookman, Simon, Osimhen
Top hosts
Ivory Coast and DR Congo meet in the other semi final later tonight.
The host nation are just favourites in the betting to reach the final – after a hugely dramatic campaign to date.
They sacked head coach Jean-Louis Gasset after a hugely disappointing group stage campaign – which they ended up QUALIFYING from to reach the last 16.
A penalty shoot out win over Senegal followed, with them needing extra time to beat Mali in the quarter finals.
Who could begrudge them a final on home turf?
Nigeria record at this stage…
Incredibly, this is Nigeria’s record 15th appearance in the semi finals of this competition.
But it’s been a stage they’ve stuttered at recently.
In fact, they’ve only reached the final once from their last six games in the AFCON semis.
Though the one time they did progress to the final in that time – in 2013 – they went on to claim the trophy.
The hosts that year? South Africa.
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