Each groups boast goalkeepers who may very well be named as the perfect within the ultimate in Ivory Coast, with 4 clear sheets for every.
Additionally, South Africa captain Ronwen Williams put in a man-of-the-match efficiency with 4 penalty saves within the shoot-out win over Cape Verde.
“Ronwen is the toast of South Africa. To save lots of 4 penalties is simply phenomenal,” mentioned Furman.
“I'm so blissful for him – an unbelievable man, the skipper and that's what you name main by instance.”
With solely two senior leaders forward of their Group A opener in opposition to, Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been one of many revelations of the event 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, allayed the fears Nigerian supporters had in regards to the goalkeeping division.
“Nwabali has come and is holding up very nicely,” Babangida mentioned.
“He’s good with the ball at his ft. Bringing him into the group has cushioned the issue we had on this side.”
Babangida was the match winner when the edges met in 2000, scoring each targets in a event co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.
However he says the Tremendous Eagles had some nerves forward of assembly a South African aspect, which had ousted the Black Stars within the Ghanaian capital Accra, that includes 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 the African competitors for nearly 4 years,” Babangida, 50, mentioned, referring to his nation's withdrawal from the 1996 finals. which resulted in a ban on these in 1998.
“Within the semi-final, the Nigerians had been nervous as a result of (South Africa) had already overwhelmed Ghana and so they had been assured. It was a tense recreation, however we had been extra decided and also you had it on the proper time.”
Though Nigeria gained that tie, they had been overwhelmed within the ultimate by neighbors Cameroon, who lifted the trophy after a penalty shoot-out.
