Nigeria and South Africa will meet for the third time in the Africa Cup of Nations finals as both go head–to-head in Wednesday’s quarter-finals.
The first time both met in the competition was also in the quarterfinals in Lagos in 2000.
Nigeria won the match 2-0. They met again in the group stage in Tunisia in 2004. Nigeria again won 4-0.
Both teams emerged from the same qualifying groups with South Africa beating Nigeria 2-0 in Uyo while the return leg ended 1-1, a result that was enough for Nigeria to qualify and lead the group, even with a game to spare.
Wednesday’s clash in Cairo Stadium will renew the rivalry between both teams. South Africa is the only non-West African side so far in the quarterfinals.
The other quarterfinalists include Senegal and Benin Republic. Two North African sides, Egypt and Morocco are already out.
