On Wednesday in the Northern Ivorian town of Bouake, the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana will extend their growing rivalry with the stakes very high as both teams eye a place in the final of the 2023 AFCON.
Both countries have clashed at full international level 14 times beginning from 1992.
Nigeria may enjoy superiority in the head-to-head meetings having won seven, drawn five and lost two, but in recent times the gap between the two teams appear to have closed.
The Super Eagles got off to a great start with a 4-0 humiliation of Bafana Bafana in October 1992 in a 1994 World Cup qualifier.
They continued their dominance at the AFCON, first a 2-0 win in the 2000 AFCON in Lagos for Nigeria to reach the championship game and then another 4-0 thrashing four years later in Tunisia.
Halfway through these meetings, the record has been a lot more balanced with Nigeria winning two, drawing four and losing one.
Nigeria eliminated South Africa in the quarterfinal of the 2019 AFCON courtesy of a 2-1 win in Egypt for the last time both countries clashed.
Wednesday’s clash will set the tone for the battle to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as both teams are drawn in the same qualifying section and again come face-to-face in June in Uyo.
South Africa are second in the group with three points after two rounds of matches, a point behind surprise leaders Rwanda.
Nigeria are third after two drawn games.
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
| 10 Oct 1992 | Nigeria v South Africa | W | 4-0 | FIFA World Cup |
| 16 Jan 1993 | South Africa v Nigeria | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup |
| 10 Feb 2000 | Nigeria v South Africa | W | 2-0 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 31 Jan 2004 | Nigeria v South Africa | W | 4-0 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 17 Nov 2004 | South Africa v Nigeria | L | 2-1 | International Friendly |
| 01 Jun 2008 | Nigeria v South Africa | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup |
| 06 Sep 2008 | South Africa v Nigeria | W | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup |
| 14 Aug 2013 | South Africa v Nigeria | W | 0-2 | International Friendly |
| 10 Sep 2014 | South Africa v Nigeria | D | 0-0 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 19 Nov 2014 | Nigeria v South Africa | D | 2-2 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 29 Mar 2015 | South Africa v Nigeria | D | 1-1 | International Friendly |
| 10 Jun 2017 | Nigeria v South Africa | L | 0-2 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 17 Nov 2018 | South Africa v Nigeria | D | 1-1 | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 10 Jul 2019 | Nigeria v South Africa | W | 2-1 | Africa Cup of Nations |
