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After so much pessimism, veteran Belgian coach Hugo Broos has guided Bafana Bafana to the Afcon semifinals.
After Bafana started with a 2-0 defeat against Mali in their opening match, very few believed that the poor start could be turned around.
But Bafana proved their doubters wrong and are now well on course to contest for a place in the Afcon final. Here's what you need to know:
READ: Afcon2023 | Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams shares the secret behind his penalty-saving exploits
1. Bafana’s first semifinal in 24 years
This will be a repeat of the 2000 semifinal, which saw Nigeria beat Bafana 2-0 in Lagos. The tournament was co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana. Bafana have not reached the last four since then.
The Super Eagles again knocked out Bafana in the quarterfinals of the 2019 tournament held in Egypt.
READ: Afcon2023: Tim Spirit | African football deserves world’s due respect as an equal playing partner
2. Nigeria rivalry, or is it?
Bafana versus Nigeria is regarded as one of the most hotly contested rivalries on the continent.
But a closer look says there is not really a rivalry. Firstly, the two nations have not played enough matches against each other for this tie to fall into the rivalry category.
Secondly, this has been largely a one-sided affair.
3. Ama2000s in the Bafana team
Striker Evidence Makgopa, midfielders Jaydon Adams, Oswin Appollis and Thapelo Maseko are the four players in the 23-player Bafana squad who were not born the last time South Africa reached the semifinals in 2000.
Makgopa:
The 23-year-old Orlando Pirates marksman was born on 5 June 2000 in Limpopo. Makgopa scored one of the goals in a 2-0 win over Morocco in the last 16-round clash.
Adams:
The Stellenbosch midfielder was born in Cape Town on 5 May 2001. The 22-year-old was one of two uncapped players in the squad. Adams made his debut in a 4-0 win over Namibia and played his second match in the goalless quarterfinal against Cape Verde, which Bafana won 2-1 on penalties.
READ: Unsung Yaya impresses ex-Bafana hardman
Appollis:
The Polokwane City forward is only 22 years old. He was one of the two uncapped players in the 23-player Bafana squad. The other is Adams.
Appollis is yet to make his debut at the Afcon.
4. Best defence versus second-best defence
Nigeria have the best defensive record out of the four remaining teams, with Bafana coming in at a close second.
Since their come-from-behind 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria did not concede again.
The Super Eagles won 1-0 against hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stages, beat Cameroon 2-0 in the round of 16 and managed another 1-0 win over Angola in the quarterfinals.
5. Local is lekker!
Out of the 24 teams at the Afcon, Bafana had the most number of players playing in the South African DStv Premiership.
Out of the 23-player Bafana squad, 20 of them are locally based, with as many as 10 coming from champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
