AFCON 2023: Four Teams Battle for Final Spots.
AFCON 2023: Four Teams Battle for Final Spots.
The penultimate stage of the 34th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, is now set, featuring Nigeria, DR Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, and South Africa as the four semi-finalists in the continent’s premier sporting event.
Nigeria, with their 16th appearance in a TotalEnergies CAF AFCON semi-final, stands as the most experienced team. Despite facing challenges, particularly in a drawn match against Equatorial Guinea, the Super Eagles showcase resilience in defense, conceding only one goal. Notably, they are the only team to reach the semi-final without playing extra time under the leadership of José Peseiro.
DR Congo secured their first victory in the CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast 2023, defeating Guinea 3-1 in the quarterfinals. This marked their fifth time reaching the semi-finals, with a historical trend of eliminating host countries in their victorious years of 1968 and 1974.
Côte d’Ivoire made global headlines on January 22, 2024, bouncing back from a 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea by eliminating the reigning African champions, Senegal. In their ninth semi-final appearance, they face DR Congo, setting the stage for a rematch of the 2015 semi-final where the Elephants emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline.
South Africa, ending a 24-year absence from the Cup of Nations semi-finals, impressed by eliminating Morocco and Cape Verde. Their journey continues in the semi-finals, where they face familiar foes, aiming to overcome their last semi-final appearance’s 2-0 loss to Nigeria in 2000.
