Rabat – Nigeria and South Africa will meet today in the semi-final match of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), racing for a spot in the final which will take place this upcoming Sunday.
The match will take place at 4 p.m. Moroccan time, and fans can watch the decisive game on CAF TV, Startimes, and DSTV.
Nigeria’s head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, is confident in his squad.
“We’re now relaxed after securing qualification for the World Cup,” Zubairu said in a pre-match conference, noting that the players can now focus fully on the U20 AFCON title.
“We’ve studied South Africa well. I watched their game against DR Congo. They’re physical, well-organized and dangerous on the counter—but we believe we have what it takes to win,” he said.
The winner of today’s game will meet either Egypt or Morocco on Sunday. Morocco is playing against Egypt today at 7 p.m. Moroccan time.
South Africa has also booked its place at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup.
They secured three wins at the U20 AFCON tournament, with this being their fifth appearance in the semifinals – a feat they also reached in 1997, 2009, 2017, and 2019.
Nigeria, meanwhile, marks its 17th appearance in the semi-finals this year.
They previously reached the final of the tournament in several occasions, including in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2011, and 2015.
