5 interesting facts about delayed 2023 AFCON semi-finalists

The delayed 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament is reaching the home stretch with two crunch semifinals slated for Wednesday, February 7, 2024. 

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana is scheduled to battle it out with title favorites Nigeria at 8 PM East African time in the first clash of the day.

Hosts Ivory Coast, who have made their fans feel every kind of emotion, will then lock horns with a strong Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) at 11 PM.

Each of the four nations will give everything on the pitch to book a place in Sunday, February 11’s final.

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With the excitement already building up in the atmosphere, here are five interesting facts you ought to know about the four teams. 

Previous AFCON winners

All of the four teams have had an opportunity to taste AFCON glory in the past with the Super Eagles boasting of more titles. Nigeria won their three titles in 1980, 1994 and 2013. 

On the other hand, DR Congo have two titles under their belt (1968 and 1974) with Cote D’Ivoire boasting of a similar number (1992 and 2015). 

Underdogs South Africa have only managed to triumph at AFCON once, doing so at the 1996 edition which was played on their home soil. 

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South Africa’s first semifinal in over 20 years

Bafana Bafana had not made it to the last four at the AFCON tournament since 2000 when they played Nigeria. 

In that one-sided semifinal, Super Eagles hammered Bafana Bafana 2 - 0 to book a place in the final against rivals Cameroon. The goals came courtesy of Tijani Babangida. 

However, hosts Nigeria were heartbroken when they lost to the Indomitable Lions in a penalty shootout in the final which was staged at the Lagos National Stadium.

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Second ever semi-final between RD Congo & Ivory Coast

The upcoming fixture will be the second semi-final ever between Ivory Coast and DR Congo.

The last first meeting at this stage between the two nations took place in 2015 where the Elephants of Ivory Coast proceeded to the final after beating DR Congo 3 - 1.

South Africa has most local based players

South Africa has the most local-based players in the four teams that have made it to the semifinals. 

Almost their entire squad is made up of players who play up in the domestic league including their skipper Ronwen Williams who is contracted with Mamelodi Sundowns. 

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DR Congo’s sixth semi-final in history

This will be DR Congo’s sixth semi-final since they made their debut in the tournament in 1965. The Leopards have previously featured in the last four at AFCON in 1968, 1974, 1972, 1998 and 2015.