Nigeria vs South Africa Prediction and Betting Tips: Back Frank Onyeka to be carded in AFCON semi
Nigeria take on South Africa in the first of the two Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals on Wednesday and here at bettingodds.com we’ve previewed the former and provided you with our best bets.
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Nigeria made it to the final-four after a narrow 1-0 victory over Angola in the quarter-finals. The Super Eagles last lifted the trophy back in 2013 when they overcame Burkina Faso in the final and they are now the favourites with the bookmakers to go on and repeat their success 11 years on. Nigeria have been chalked-up at just ¼ to progress to Sunday’s final, while they can be backed at 6/5 to win the tournament.
South Africa were priced at 66/1 before a ball was kicked at the 2024 renewal of AFCON. Despite being outsiders, Hugo Broos’ men have knocked out favourites and World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, before seeing off Cape Verde in the quarters. This will be South Africa’s first appearance at a semi-final at the Cup of Nations since all the way back in 2000 and they are on offer at 3/1 to make the final and 9/1 to lift the trophy.
Predicted Line-ups
Nigeria:
Nwabali; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey; Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Sanusi; Simon, Lookman; Osimhen
South Africa:
Williams; Mudau, Kekana, Mvala, Modiba; Mokoena, Sithole; Morena, Zwane, Tau; Makgopa
Nigeria vs South Africa Tips
We fancy Nigeria to make it to the final on Sunday but instead of backing them in the standard match result maket at 3/5, we’ve opted to take the even money (1/1) that is available for them to win the game with Under 3.5 goals being scored.
The Super Eagles’ win over Angola was their fourth consecutive ‘win to nil’ at the tournament and the only goal they have conceded came in the first group game when they played out a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea.
All five of Nigeria’s matches so far have featured Under three goals, while four of South Africa’s five also meet this criterion. Several Nigeria players looked to be suffering from fatigue at the end of their clash with Angola, but the prospect of a final can inspire them to another narrow victory here.
We’ve also taken a lean towards a selection from the ‘player to be carded’ market. Frank Onyeka is the man on our radar, and we think he makes appeal at the current 3/1 that is on offer with BetMGM for him to find his way into the book.
The Brentford man has only featured for 736 minutes in the Premier League this season but has been shown five yellow cards – the joint second highest in the Bees squad this term. That’s an average of a yellow every 147 minutes which immediately gives appeal to the 3/1 offering for this AFCON clash with the prospect of a final on the line. Onyeka was carded in the group stage and looks a prime candidate to be booked here against South Africa.
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