Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to confront South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the semifinals of the AFCON 2023, vying for a spot in the tournament’s final stage.
Heading into the semifinals, the Super Eagles of Nigeria stand as the highest-ranked team remaining in the AFCON 2023 competition. Their pursuit of a fourth AFCON title faces a formidable challenge as they clash with South Africa in the semifinal showdown on Wednesday.
The ongoing 34th AFCON edition in Cote d’Ivoire has showcased unexpected triumphs for underdog teams, setting the stage for an intense contest. Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face South Africa in Bouake, emerging as the highest-ranked participant in the tournament.
According to the latest FIFA World Ranking, Nigeria holds the 42nd position globally, making it the lone semifinalist positioned within the top 45 teams worldwide.
At the beginning of the year, Nigeria started as the 43rd-ranked nation globally and the sixth-ranked team in Africa, anticipating the AFCON 2023 in Cote d’Ivoire.
However, the top five teams, including former title favorites Morocco (13th) and defending champions Senegal (20th), have exited the competition, leaving Nigeria as the highest-ranked contender.
In the last four, Nigeria stands as the top-ranked team in Ivory Coast, followed by the host nation (ninth), South Africa (12th), and DR Congo (22nd).
As Nigeria gears up to face South Africa in the semifinals, their impressive ranking underlines their quality and positions them as one of the frontrunners for clinching the trophy.
Nigeria’s superior ranking eclipses that of fellow semifinalists like South Africa, positioned 66th globally, hosts Cote d’Ivoire (49th), and surprise package DR Congo, ranked 67th.
With a combination of pedigree and ranking, Nigeria aims to leverage its status as Africa’s top-ranked team to secure continental glory.
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