Bafana Bafana defender Nkosinathi Sibisi says they’re fully aware of the challenge that awaits them in the semi-final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria, three-time winners of the competition, who last won AFCON in 2013 on South African soil, await the 1996 African champions in the Last-four.
Neither were tipped to reach this stage after subdued displays in the opening games of the tournament, but defensive solidity, with neither conceding since then, four games, has been the key to their rise in the competition.
“Yeah, very difficult encounter you know, up against a very difficult opponent as well. The vibe has been positive, why shouldn’t it be with the result we’ve been getting. it’s not going to be easy, but a difficult encounter,” Sibisi told iDiski Times.
“The confidence is there, with the players, with everyone, but I still think we have to keep our feet on the ground, keep humble and do what we have to do.”
With Sibisi behind the pecking order due to the impressive displays of Mothobi Mvala and Grant Kekana, who are enjoying a telepathic relationship, due to being teammates at club level at Mamelodi Sundowns, Sibisi says he’s not relished witnessing their form of late.
“It’s really easy [to be a supporting member], especially as you’ve said the guys have put in a tremendous amount of work. To get four clean sheets out of games, it’s no child’s play,” he continued.
“So I think they are doing a great job. For me, it’s to support them from the stands or from wherever I am.”
The match which has created a whirlwind on social media, beyond the football scene, dubbed by social media as the Derby Amapiano, is something that’s brought a bit of amusement amongst the squad – but revisits the immense rivalry between the nations.
“Some of the stuff you can’t ignore, social media is there you know but we try and laugh about it and move on you because our focus is winning the tournament – we’ve gotten this far, we can’t let it slide now.”
South Africa have beaten the Super Eagles once, lost once and drawn three times in their last five games played.
