Nigeria vs South Africa dwell updates: Africa Cup of Nations crew information, line-ups and predictions

Group C time.

1. Senegal – PTS: 9, GD: 7
2. Cameroon – PTS: 4, GD: -1
3. Guinea – PTS: 4, GD: -1
4. Gambia – PTS: 0, GD: -5

The reigning champions made mild work of Group C as Senegal cruised into the knockouts with the one 100 per cent file of the group stage.

Behind them, Cameroon left it late to ebook their last-16 place in a pulsating win towards The Gambia, leaping them into second place. They made it by way of with Guinea, who additionally collected 4 factors.

Then, Group B.

1. Cape Verde – PTS: 7, GD: 4
2. Egypt – PTS: 3, GD: 0
3. Ghana – PTS: 2, GD: -1
4. Mozambique – PTS: 2, GD: -3

And Ghana didn’t have the identical luck because the hosts. Their dismal group-stage efficiency led to the shock exit of the group stage with two targets conceded in stoppage time towards Mozambique sending them home.

Egypt had been the beneficiaries of these late targets as they went by way of as group runners-up behind the shock bundle of the group stage, Cape Verde.

There has been loads of leisure on the event to this point and, whereas that’s prior to now, it’s price throwing it again to day one.

And we began with Group A.

1. Equatorial Guinea – PTS: 7, GD: 6
2. Nigeria – PTS: 7, GD: 2
3. Ivory Coast – PTS: 3, GD: -3
4. Guinea-Bissau – PTS: 0, GD: -5

Everyone thought hosts Ivory Coast can be heading out after their embarrassing 4-0 defeat towards Equatorial Guinea of their ultimate group match and so did they!

They selected to sack supervisor Jean-Louis Gasset whereas their destiny was not but sealed and went on to qualify for the knockouts because the fourth-best third place crew. That meant they joined group winners Equatorial Guinea and runners up Nigeria within the final 16.

In 2022, Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller was requested if he would like to stick with his title-chasing Dutch membership Ajax to start out the yr moderately than go to the Africa Cup of Nations.

His response was to the purpose.

“This query reveals the disrespect for Africa,” he mentioned.

“Would this query ever get requested to a European participant forward of the Euros? Of course I’m going.”

Read extra beneath.

Not been maintaining to this point? Even when you’ve got, take heed to Tifo Football’s brilliantly informative podcast, recorded earlier than the beginning of the event, to furnish you with the whole lot you have to know for the event proper right here.

• Why is it known as AFCON 2023 if it’s in 2024?
• Why ought to folks be watching?
• Who are the gamers to keep watch over?

Jon Mackenzie, Maher Mezahi and Alasdair Howorth reply all these questions, and extra. Listen in!

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What are you ready for?

Stade de la Paix, Bouake

Capacity: 40,000.

The second-biggest stadium in use at AFCON 2023 is the venue for right now’s first recreation.

Neither crew has performed at Stade de la Paix but on the event, so it will likely be a brand new expertise for them.

Here are the viewing choices for these hoping to tune into the motion:

• UK: Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League.
• US: beIN Sports.
• Australia: beIN Sports.
• Canada: beIN Sports.
• Nigeria: AfroSport.
• South Africa: SABC.

It is a 5pm kick-off native time, and in addition 5pm GMT within the UK.

That is 6pm in Nigeria and 7pm in South Africa.

For these of you within the US, that’s 12pm ET and 9am PT.