Nigeria’s growing rivalry with South Africa will add a new chapter to the tale when the Flying Eagles take on the Amajitas in the first semifinal of the ongoing African U-20 Cup of Nations holding in Egypt.

  Both teams have already qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, but the South Africans see tomorrow’s clash as another avenue to show that they have come of age.

  In the last two years, Nigeria has met South Africa three times with two victories and a draw. The Super Eagles beat Bafana Bafana in the semifinals of the Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, while the Super Falcons eliminated the Banyana Banyana in the race to last year’s Olympic Games held in Paris, France.

  But in one of the most important games in the rivalry, South Africa came to Uyo to hold the Super Eagles to a draw that has put the Bafana Bafana on the driving seat in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.

  Tomorrow, it will be the turn of the next generation of stars to write their names on the rivalry log.  An excited Amajita Coach, Raymond Mdaka, who ranks guiding South Africa to their fifth FIFA U-20 World Cup as the biggest achievement of his career, is upbeat that his wards will withstand anything that Nigeria throws at them.

  He vowed his side will give their all in the semifinal, though they have already achieved “the bigger goal” of sealing qualification for the World Cup in Chile, in September and October.

  Mdaka said Amajita shared a hotel with Nigeria and the banter started between the Flying Eagles and the South Africans before they were pitted against each other in the semis.

    South Africa beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1-0 at Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, to qualify for the semifinal.
 Mdaka said the Nigerians, staying at the same hotel in Ismailia, have been teasing Amajita players calling them “junior brothers.

   “In all our games, we play to win and we will continue with that mentality against Nigeria. Yes, we’ve achieved the bigger goal, but we can’t let Nigeria walk all over us.

  “We are staying at the same hotel and already they’re saying we’re their junior brothers, so you know it will be a tough game, especially with the rivalry.” The game against Nigeria will start at 4.00 p.m. Egypt time, which is 3.00 p.m. in Nigeria.