WAFCON 2024: South Africa Set Up Semi-Final Showdown with Nigeria

South Africa have booked their spot in the semi-finals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), setting up a blockbuster clash with long-time rivals Nigeria at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco.

The Banyana Banyana held their nerve in a tightly contested quarter-final on Saturday, edging Senegal 4-1 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw across 120 minutes of play.

Nigeria, meanwhile, marched into the last four with a commanding 5-0 win over Zambia’s Copper Queens on Friday, extending their flawless run in the tournament. The Super Falcons have now scored eight goals without conceding across four matches, underlining their dominance at both ends of the pitch.

With the semi-final lineup now complete, the spotlight falls on Tuesday’s heavyweight encounter between the two African powerhouses. The upcoming clash rekindles a growing rivalry that saw South Africa narrowly defeat Nigeria 1-0 in the group stage of the 2022 edition, also held in Morocco, a victory that came four years after Nigeria edged them in the 2018 final.

The Super Falcons head into the tie brimming with confidence, having combined attacking flair with rock-solid defence throughout the competition. South Africa, the reigning champions, will look to draw inspiration from their recent successes against Nigeria as they aim to deny the nine-time champions another shot at the continental crown.

Elsewhere, the other semi-final fixture will see Ghana’s Black Queens face host nation Morocco, also on Tuesday, as the tournament builds towards a dramatic finale.