We have had the national anthems and we're ready to go.

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Nigeria face South Africa in Bouake in a repeat of the 2000 Nations Cup semi-final, with the Super Eagles beating Bafana Bafana as the countries met for the first time at the tournament.

The West Africans have the upper hand in meetings at Afcon, winning all three encounters - with the most recent of those a quarter-final tie in 2019.

Playing in a record-extending 15th Afcon semi-final, Nigeria have impressed both in attack and in defence, where they have won their past four games without conceding a goal - their best run at a Nations Cup.

With Frank Onyeka winning over his critics to provide a solid platform in central midfield, the likes of Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon have been liberated - with the latter creating the only goal of the quarter-final against Angola for the former, who has scored half of Nigeria's six goals.

"We've got a lot of faith in our defensive structure and in the final third we're frightening," defender Semi Ajayi told BBC Sport Africa.

Coach Jose Peseiro has repeatedly said a clean sheet will guarantee a win for his side given their prowess up front, where reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen has impressed with his non-stop running and pressing despite only scoring once.

Former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh has praised Osimhen's' leadership and hunger' , externalwith the latter a key word for a team that - unlike some previous Super Eagles sides - looks fully focused.

Kolo Toure
Former Ivory Coast & Arsenal defender on BBC Two

Image source, Getty Images

I have been really impressed with William Troost-Ekong this tournament. He is Nigeria's captain, their rock at the back, he is calm and composed, always talking and guiding his teammates.

He took a big penalty against Ivory Coast in the group stage. When I saw him step up I did question it, but he did it, and finished it really well.

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While many expected Nigeria to go far, few thought the same about South Africa who have benefitted from the guile of Hugo Broos, who led Cameroon to their unexpected 2017 triumph.

The oldest coach at the tournament, the 71-year-old has relied on the core of South African club Mamelodi Sundowns to take Bafana Bafana into the last four for the first time in 24 years.

Eight players from the Pretoria-based club that won last year's inaugural African Football League, while also reaching the African Champions League semi-finals, started their quarter-final against Cape Verde.

"He has taken Sundowns players because he understands those players have experience against different opponents from across the continent - and he realised the synergy and teamwork are important," former South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena told the BBC.

Broos said their performance against Cape Verde was their worst at the finals so far and, although Bafana Bafana have also achieved four straight clean sheets, he was indebted to captain Ronwen Williams for a crucial last save before keeping out four penalties in the shootout.

In midfield Teboho Mokoena, another Sundowns man, has provided dynamism while Nigeria will need to be wary of experienced forward Themba Zwane who scored twice in the group-stage win against Namibia.

Former Nigeria winger Tijani Babangida was the match-winner when the sides met in the semi-finals at the 2000 Afcon, scoring both goals at a tournament co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.

But he says the Super Eagles had some nerves before meeting a South Africa side, who had knocked out the Black Stars in the Ghanaian capital Accra, with stars like Mark Fish, Lucas Radebe, Quinton Fortune and Shaun Bartlett.

"South Africa were leading in Africa at that time and Nigeria had been out of Africa competition for almost four years," Babangida, 50, said, referring to his nation's withdrawal from the 1996 finals, which resulted in a ban from those in 1998.

"In the semi-final, Nigerians were jittery because they (South Africa) had already beaten Ghana and were confident. It was a tense game but we were more determined and got them at the right moment."

Although Nigeria won that tie, they were beaten in the final by neighbours Cameroon, who lifted the trophy after a penalty shoot-out.

Nigeria are ranked 42nd in the world, 24 places above South Africa, but Bafana Bafana pulled off one of the shocks of the knock-out stages when Hugo Broos' side beat Morocco 2-0 in the last 16.

"Their performance (against Morocco) was one of the best I have seen from Bafana in a very long time," Mark Fish, a key part of the 1996 Afcon-winning squad, told BBC Sport Africa.

"The technical team and players have an understanding of what they need to do on the field and they are doing it remarkably well.

"The atmosphere is very encouraging and positive. It is similar to what I experienced when I was playing."

Nigeria hold a better head-to-head record, with seven wins and five draws against South Africa, and the semi-final in Bouake will be the 15th meeting across all competitions between the two rivals.

Former Orlando Pirates, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic defender Fish is keen for Bafana Bafana to forget history and play with "a positive attitude".

"Nigeria is our nemesis in the sense that they have had more success over us than we have had over them," the 49-year-old added.

"We know Nigeria are physically very strong and have very talented players. But South Africa should take the same mentality that they have had in every game in the knock-out stages."

Sebastien Bassong
Former Cameroon defender on BBC World Football podcast

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa are the dark horse of the tournament.

Their main strength is their coach, Hugo Broos, the experience that he has is invaluable, he won Afcon before with Cameroon.

The squad also have a great togetherness, they know one another so, so well, and that is what makes them very dangerous.

Kolo Toure
Former Ivory Coast & Arsenal defender on BBC Two

Image source, Getty Images

The so-called 'smaller' countries in Africa are improving and this has led to more different teams in the knockout stages [compared to last time around].

The 'bigger' teams are realising that the gap is now closing, and now you do not have to have a lot of players playing [club football] in Europe to win the Africa Cup of Nations. That is a big sign that African football as a whole is getting better.

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Both teams boast goalkeepers who could be named as the best at the finals in Ivory Coast, with four clean sheets apiece.

Moreover, South Africa captain Ronwen Williams displayed a man-of-the-match performance with four penalty saves in the shoot-out victory over Cape Verde.

"Ronwen is the toast of South Africa. To save four penalties is just phenomenal," said ex-South Africa captain Dean Furman.

"I'm so pleased for him - an incredible guy, the skipper and that is what you call leading by example."

With just two senior caps before their Group A opener against, Nigeria keeper Stanley Nwabali has been one of the revelations of the tournament with composed and confident displays in his first Afcon with the Super Eagles.

The 27-year-old, who like his opposite number plays in South Africa's Premier Soccer League, has eased fears Nigerian supporters had about the goalkeeping department.

"Nwabali came in and is keeping very well," Babangida said. "He is good with the ball at his feet. Bringing him into the team has cushioned the problem that we are having in that aspect."

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Three-time African champions Nigeria will rekindle their continental rivalry with South Africa in a highly-anticipated semi-final at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The West Africans have won all three of their previous meetings at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), have the better head-to-head record and are the highest-ranked side remaining in Ivory Coast.

Yet 1996 winners Bafana Bafana have already knocked out Morocco, Africa's top-ranked side, and will aim to avenge the pain of past meetings with Nigeria when appearing in the last four for the first time since 2000 - when they were beaten 2-0 by the Super Eagles.

"It's a kind of rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa and it is a do-or-die game between the two countries," former Nigeria international Tijani Babangida told BBC Sport Africa.

"In 2000, we met in the semi-final and now it happens again. It's going to be a battle. This Super Eagles team are determined to reach the final and win the trophy."

The countries' most recent Afcon meeting came in the 2019 quarter-finals in Egypt, with goals from Samuel Chukwueze and William Troost-Ekong giving the Super Eagles a 2-1 win.

South Africa won their sole Afcon title as hosts in 1996, on what was their debut at the finals.

Having finished as runners-up two years later before coming third in 2000, following their semi-final defeat by Nigeria in Lagos, Bafana Bafana failed to get past the quarter-finals again on three subsequent occasions until beating Cape Verde on penalties in Yamoussoukro on Saturday.

"We have come relatively close before, losing to a last-minute goal to Nigeria in 2019," former South Africa captain Dean Furman told the BBC World Football at Afcon podcast.

"We lost in 2013 in the quarter-finals but finally we've got over the hurdle and what a way to do it. It's huge."

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Watch highlights as Nigeria beat Angola 1-0 in the 2023 Afcon quarter-finals thanks to a goal from Ademola Lookman.

Watch highlights as South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams produces a world class save and then stops four penalties during a shootout in which his side beat Cape Verde to reach the semi-finals of Afcon 2023.

One change for Nigeria from the side that beat Angola 1-0 in the quarter-finals as Bright Osayi-Samuel comes in for Zaidu Sanusi.

It is a team full of Premier League experience, with starts for Fulham pair Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi, with starts too for Nottingham Forest's Ola Aina and Brentford's Frank Onyeka, while West Brom's Semi Ajayi is also in the 11.

Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho and Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo are among the substitutes.

Nigeria XI: Nwabali, Bassey, Troost-Ekong, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel, Iwobi, Onyeka, Aina, Lookman, Simon, Osimhen.

Subs: Uzoho, Awaziem, Omeruo, Alhassan, Aribo, Chukwueze, Onyedika, Musa, Iheanacho, Onuachu, Moffi.

Image source, BBC Sport

South Africa also make just one change from the side that began the tight victory over Cape Verde in the quarter-finals, when South Africa scraped through 2-1 on penalties after it had been goalless at the end of extra time.

In comes Siyanda Xulu and out goes Thapelo Morena.

South Africa XI: Williams, Modiba, Mvala, Kekana, Mudau, Sithole, Mokoena, Tau, Zwane, Xulu, Makgopa.

Subs: Mothwa, Goss, Morena, Sibisi, Adams, Monare, Appollis, Lepasa, Mayambela, Mashego, Mobbie.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Two

Hello and welcome along to BBC Sport's coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals as Nigeria take on South Africa at 17:00 GMT before Ivory Coast meet DR Congo at 20:00 GMT.

If you're in the UK, you will be able to watch the first game on BBC Two and the second game on BBC Three.

We are up and running with our coverage on BBC Two so press the play button at the top of this page to watch the build-up to the Nigeria v South Africa clash.

We are down to the final four in the Africa Cup of Nations and by the end of tonight we will know which two teams will meet in the final on Sunday.

Can Victor Osimhen fire Nigeria into the final or will South Africa continue their fine tournament?

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Then in the second semi-final hosts Ivory Coast look to continue their dramatic tournament that has included a 4-0 loss that saw their coach get sacked and some last-gasp goals to make the last four.

Standing in their way is DR Congo, the surprise package of the tournament who have already eliminated highly-fancied Egypt.

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