Nigeria and South Africa will renew their long-standing rivalry in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Casablanca today (kick-off 17:00 local time / 16:00 GMT).
Match facts
This will be the 12th WAFCON meeting between the two sides and their eighth consecutive clash at the tournament since 2006. They did not face each other only in the 1998 and 2004 editions.
Their most recent meeting came in the opening match of the 2022 tournament, where South Africa defeated Nigeria 2-1. Goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe (61′) and Hildah Magaia (63′) put South Africa ahead before Rasheedat Ajibade pulled one back in stoppage time.
Nigeria have the upper hand in WAFCON history with eight wins (including one on penalties in the 2018 final), while South Africa have three victories. The two sides also met twice in the 2018 tournament.
South Africa won the group stage clash 1-0, but Nigeria won the final on penalties after a goalless draw. Their first-ever WAFCON meeting was in the 2000 final, where Nigeria beat hosts South Africa 2-0.
Current South Africa coach Desiree Ellis captained the team that day. In the 2002 semi-final, Nigeria won 5-0, their largest margin of victory in the rivalry. They have clashed five times in group stages: Nigeria won in 2006 (2-0), 2008 (1-0), and 2010 (2-1), while South Africa won in 2018 (1-0) and 2022 (2-1).
This will be their fourth semi-final meeting and their seventh encounter beyond the group stage. They also met in two finals (2000, 2018), both won by Nigeria. South Africa’s first semi-final win over Nigeria came in 2012 (1-0).
Nigeria avenged it in 2014 (2-1) and 2016 (1-0). Only the 2018 final was decided by penalties. All three previous semi-final meetings ended in regulation time. In the 2018 tournament, South Africa kept two clean sheets against Nigeria (group stage and final)—more than in their previous eight WAFCON meetings combined.
A total of 22 goals have been scored in their 11 past WAFCON meetings—Nigeria 16, South Africa 6. Since Nigeria’s 2-0 win in 2006, the last six matches to produce a winner have all been decided by a single goal. Under Desiree Ellis, South Africa are unbeaten in open play against Nigeria (W2 D1), although they lost the 2018 final on penalties. Nigeria are facing defending champions for the second time; the first was a 4-2 win over Equatorial Guinea in the 2010 final.
NIGERIA FACTS
Recorded a 5-0 win over Zambia in the quarter-finals to reach their 13th WAFCON semi-final.
Have reached at least the semi-finals in every WAFCON edition they’ve played. Playing a 15th WAFCON knockout match (12 semi-finals, 2 quarter-finals).
Knockout stage record: W11 L3 (8 wins in open play, 2 on penalties; 2 losses in open play, 1 on penalties).
Knockout stage losses: 2008 (1-0 vs. Equatorial Guinea), 2012 (1-0 vs. South Africa), 2022 (penalties vs. Morocco).
Penalty shoot-out record: 3 wins (2008, 2018 SF, 2018 Final), 1 loss (2022 SF vs. Morocco). Semi-final record: W9 L3 (8 wins in open play, 1 on penalties).
A win will take them to a 10th final. Yet to concede a goal at the current tournament; first time since 1998. Have gone 383 minutes without conceding at WAFCON. 5-0 win over Zambia marked the fifth time Nigeria scored 5+ goals in a knockout game. Scored 9 goals in the current tournament—the same as in 2022.
Five different players scored in the quarter-final, last achieved in 2014 vs. Zambia. Completed only 167 passes vs. Zambia (lowest in tournament); 43.5% possession (first game below 50%).
Faced no shots on target against Zambia while registering 7. Seven different goal scorers, most since 2014 (8 scorers).
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has made just 2 saves in 4 games—the fewest among remaining keepers. Chinwedu Ihezuo is top scorer with 3 goals.
SOUTH AFRICA FACTS
Reached the semi-finals for the 11th time—second most behind Nigeria.
Semi-final record: P10 W5 L5. A win will take them to a sixth final. Aiming for third straight final appearance; only Nigeria have achieved this feat (1998–2006 and 2014–2018).
Under Ellis, they’ve reached 3 semi-finals: beat Mali (2018) and Zambia (2022).
Unbeaten in open play in last 15 WAFCON matches; one short of Nigeria’s record (16).
Last WAFCON loss in open play was in 2016 (1-0 vs. Ghana). Undefeated in last 7 WAFCON games vs. West African teams (W5 D2).
Under Ellis, won all direct knockout games: beat Senegal (2018), Tunisia (2022), Zambia (2022), and Senegal (2024). In 6 knockout games under Ellis, kept 5 clean sheets (only conceded vs. Morocco in 2022 final). Most shots on target among semi-finalists (24).
Goalkeeper Andile Dlamini has made 13 saves in 3 matches (compared to 11 in 6 matches in 2022). Dlamini has 6 clean sheets in 9 WAFCON games (3 goals conceded).
Kaylin Swart, who has played once this edition, kept clean sheets against Nigeria twice in 2018 (1-0 group win and 0-0 final). Conceded the fewest fouls among semi-finalists (36); fouled 54 times.
Won last four WAFCON knockout matches; last loss came in 2016 semi-final vs. Nigeria (1-0).
Direct knockout record: W7 L5 (includes 3 shoot-outs). Penalty shoot-out record: 1 win (2024 QF vs. Senegal), 2 losses (2006 vs. Cameroon, 2018 Final vs. Nigeria).
In 2024 QF vs. Senegal, Karabo Dhlamini had most touches (102), Refiloe Jane had most passes (55) with 88.7% accuracy.
Match officials
REFEREE: Shamirah NABADDA
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Fanta IDRISSA KONE
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Mariem CHEDAD
4TH OFFICIAL: Dorsaf GANOUATI
RESERVE ASSISTANT REFEREE: Houda AFINE
VAR: Lahlou BENBRAHАМ
ASSISTANT VAR1: Salima Rhadia MUKANSANGA
ASSISTANT VAR2: Yara ATEF
SOURCE: CAF
