Nigeria and South Africa coaches play fast and loose with 'favourite' tag
Nigeria boss José Peseiro and his South Africa counterpart Hugo Broos on Tuesday toyed with the notion of which side was favourite to advance to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Peseiro's squad - at 42 - are the highest ranked outfit left in the tournament in Cote d'Ivoire. Wenesday night's opponents in Bouaké lie 24 places beneath them in the Fifa rankings.
"We're happy and motivated to play in the semi-final," said Broos. "For many people it is unexpected. It's more than 20 years since South Africa was in the last four.
"I think Nigeria are the favourites but it's not always the favourites that win."
Broos's side needed a penalty shoot-out to see off Cape Verde in the quarter-final. In the last-16, they outwitted the World Cup semi-finalists Morocco who imploded during 90 minutes with a missed penalty and a man sent off.
"We will be playing another very good team," Broos added.
Peseiro, whose side has been hailed for conceding only one goal in its five matches, returned the compliment on the eve of the clash at the Stade de la Paix.
"We must play a high level match as we know the power of the opponent," said the 63-year-old Portuguese.
"Everyone said Morocco will beat them because they have players in the top European leagues. What happened? Morocco lost.
"South Africa are well organised. They have let in one goal more than us. They play compact and they don't allow space."
Nigeria could be without striker Victor Osimhen for the match. The 25-year-old travelled separately from the rest of the team on Monday to continue his recovery from a muscle injury. A decision will be taken on his fitness on Wednesday.
Though the Napoli star has scored only once, his pressing and perpetual menace has opened up spaces for strike partner Ademola Lookman who has netted three of Nigeria's six goals.
"It's not only about Osimhen," said Broos, who steered an unfancied Cameroon to Cup of Nations glory in 2017.
"Nigeria have become a very good team with very good players who play all over Europe. So it will be tough game even if Osimhen isn't playing.
"But that is also a motivation for us to prove that we are as good as they are and that we can win it also."
Should the tie go to a penalty shoot-out after extra-time, South Africa will be favourites after the heroics of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in the last eight.
The 32-year-old set a tournament record by saving four of the five penalties.
"It was just for me to give back to the team for the hard work that they had done throughout the 120 plus minutes," he said on Tuesday.
"You know the desire they had to run and to keep fighting, it was tough. Guys were cramping, but they kept fighting.
"So that was my time to step up. I'm just glad that I could do my job and that we are in the semi-finals."
The winner of the clash will play either hosts Cote d'Ivoire or Democratic Republic of Congo in the final on Sunday at the Alassane Outtara Stadium in Abidjan.
The loser will contest the third place play-off match at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Saturday.
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