Each groups boast goalkeepers who might be named as one of the best on the finals in Ivory Coast, with 4 clear sheets apiece.
Furthermore, South Africa captain Ronwen Williams displayed a man-of-the-match efficiency with 4 penalty saves within the shoot-out victory over Cape Verde.
“Ronwen is the toast of South Africa. To avoid wasting 4 penalties is simply phenomenal,” Furman mentioned.
“I am so happy for him – an unbelievable man, the skipper and that’s what you name main by instance.”
With simply two senior caps earlier than their Group A opener towards, Nigeria keeper Stanley Nwabali has been one of many revelations of the match with composed and assured shows in his first Afcon with the Tremendous Eagles.
The 27-year-old, who like his reverse quantity performs in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, has eased fears Nigerian supporters had in regards to the goalkeeping division.
“Nwabali got here in and is holding very properly,” Babangida mentioned.
“He’s good with the ball at his toes. Bringing him into the crew has cushioned the issue that we’re having in that side.”
Babangida was the match-winner when the edges met in 2000, scoring each targets at a match co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.
However he says the Tremendous Eagles had some nerves earlier than assembly a South Africa facet, who had knocked out the Black Stars within the Ghanaian capital Accra, with stars like Fish, Lucas Radebe, Quinton Fortune and Shaun Bartlett.
“South Africa had been main in Africa at the moment and Nigeria had been out of Africa competitors for nearly 4 years,” Babangida, 50, mentioned, referring to his nation’s withdrawal from the 1996 finals, which resulted in a ban from these in 1998.
“Within the semi-final, Nigerians had been jittery as a result of they (South Africa) had already overwhelmed Ghana and had been assured. It was a tense sport however we had been extra decided and acquired them on the proper second.”
Though Nigeria received that tie, they had been overwhelmed within the last by neighbours Cameroon, who lifted the trophy after a penalty shoot-out.
