Bafana Bafana are locked and loaded ahead of Wednesday night’s big Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Nigeria at the Peace Stadium of Bouaké in Bouaké, Ivory Coast.

Bafana entered the AFCON as a dark horse to win the continental football showpiece and since losing their opening game to Mali, they have shifted gears and caused some upsets en route to the last four.

The Super Eagles will be a different kettle of fish to deal with, but Bafana believe that they can go all the way.

The Bafana captain and hero in goal, Ronwen Williams, said they are very proud to have made it this far.

“We're just proud as a team to be in the semi-finals and the last four,” said Williams who saved four penalties in the shootout against Cape Verde.

“We've worked so hard over the last few years. We've come a long way as a country, as a team and as a squad, so I'm just proud to be at this stage in the tournament.

“Not so many people believed in us, but we believed in ourselves and what we've done over the last few years. We've showed that it is possible and we're looking forward to the game.”

The coach, Hugo Broos, who coached the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to the title in 2017, said they know the quality of the team they are going to come up against, but they are prepared and past results are out of the window.

“We know and understand who we are up against - we know this team and that their players play all over Europe,” said Broos.

“We also know that last time in an Africa Cup of Nations what the result was, but this time it’s different. It’s different players, a different team and a different AFCON. Anything is possible.”

Wednesday night’s big semi-final kicks off at 19:00. At 22:00, the host Ivory Coast will face Democratic Republic of Congo in the second semi-final.

??? Ronwen Williams:

“Not many people believed in us, but we always believed in ourselves.”#AFCON2023 | #CAN2023 pic.twitter.com/MoILM64EIm

— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) February 7, 2024

Morgan Piek OFM Sport