Whether it is Asake’s Amapiano,
Amapiano (ayy), diano (ayy)
It’s a big vibe, all the girls dem know (shuu, shuu)
Steadily, steadily
Heavily, we are getting lit!
Or Uncle Waffles’ Yahyuppiyah. The amapiano dance fever took over Africa in 2023. The dance and the songs even in different versions and different steps became Africa’s go to dance and of course, South Africa and Nigeria are the kings of the dance and the beats of this particular one.
@krizbaba22 Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey showing their Amapiano dance steps. #supereagles #amapiano #ojopiano #amapianodance #nigeriantiktok???????? #dance #football #footballtiktok #godswillakpabio #godswillakpabiostadium #uyo
However, South Africa and Nigeria’s rivalry did not start in 2023. The battle has been going on for years, even though both countries do not share any territories in any way, they are always at each other’s throat for one reason or the other.
In football, both countries are always seeking to get over each other. Of course, you don’t want to reduce the bragging rights of your country by losing a football match hence, the intense battle on the pitch.
That intense battle will continue in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when these two go face to face in the semifinals of the tournament. This game will even be more vigorous than we have ever seen over the years as it is a chance to play in the AFCON finals.
South Africa has played in one final in 26 years, the 1998 AFCON which they eventually lost to Egypt, 2-0. The irony is that Nigeria won its last AFCON trophy on the soil of South Africa in 2013.
So this is going to be the battle of a lifetime for the two teams.
Amapiano Derby – South Africa v Nigeria
The head to head between these two in the past 16 years dating back to 2008 shows a fierce battle. In the period both countries have faced off in World Cup and AFCON qualifiers, AFCON proper, international friendlies and CHAN tournaments.
Going by the date, there have been 10 matches between the two teams and Nigeria have been victorious in 5 outings. Both countries have met seven times at the African Nations Cup, with the first in 2000 and last in 2019 in Egypt where goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Troost Ekong knocked out Bafana Bafana in the quarterfinals.
So coming into this particular one, there is a lot at stake for both teams. Continuation of dominance or beginning of revenge?
Amapiano Derby – South Africa v Nigeria
In the 2024 Grammy Awards, Tyla – A South African singer defeated 4 Nigerian artistes – Davido, Burna Boy, Asake and Ayra Star in the “Best African Music Performance” category. A lot of Nigerians are already counting the scores of the Ampiano derby as 1-0 to South Africa after the music award ceremony.
Na Bafana Bafana Boys Go Suffer Am.
— EL HUNCHO (@Peruzzi) February 4, 2024
But the ultimate battle will come up on Wednesday. The two teams have had a lot in common in this tournament, so this will be interesting.
Both teams are unbeaten in this tournament. Nigeria have won 4 straight games after the opening match draw against Equatorial Guinea. That is the longest winning streak in this tournament.
South Africa however, have lost a game. They have also drawn two games, the recent one the goalless draw against Cape Verde which they eventually won on penalties. Bafana Bafana are the first team to score 4 unreplied goals in this competition and are the team with the highest win margin in this AFCON.
So this is a well set-up tie; a blockbuster in the waiting.
South Africa v Nigeria – The PSL clash up
The two best goalkeepers in this tournament are based in the South African league – the PSL. Super Eagles shot stopper, Stanley Nwabali plays for Chippa United while Ronwen Williams is the main man between sticks for Mamelodi Sundowns.
Both shot stoppers have kept 4 clean sheets apiece in this tournament with Nwabali conceding just once and Williams conceding twice both in the first round of games.
Williams showed his penalty heroics against Cape Verde as he saved 4 penalties to seal his team’s semi finals spot and Nwabali has several times been awarded ‘save of the day’ by CAF as he continues to keep balls out of his net.
The two men will be important in who eventually comes out victorious on the night as they both eye the golden glove award.
Amapaino Derby – Part 1
This Wednesday will be the first clash of the rivalry. Both teams will still clash in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers later in the year.
Next week it’s Amapiano Vs AfroBeats |Bafana Bafana | Nigeria | #AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/qGzYu4jMe2
— Keoagile (@iam_keoa) February 3, 2024
So whoever wins this one might not have the final laugh. However, Let’s Do It Again is very important for the Super Eagles and their fans.
Top photo: Justina Aniefiok