Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has been reportedly cleared by the team’s medical doctor for the clash against South Africa which will happen later tonight.
Africa Today News, New York had earlier reported that Osimhen missed the Super Eagles trip to Bouake – the venue of the semi-final clash with South Africa – after suffering abdominal discomfort.
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It was said that the Napoli striker will be examined on Tuesday morning, and if cleared, will join the rest of the squad who have arrived safely in Bouake.
According to sources in Abidjan, Osimhen is on his way to Bouake after being declared fit by the medical team.
The 25-year-old has started in all of Super Eagles’ five matches in Cote d’Ivoire, scoring one goal and chalking up one assist.
Meanwhile, Neil Tovey and Mark Williams, key figures when South Africa won their lone Africa Cup of Nations title, believe defeating 2024 semi-final opponents Nigeria will be “tough”.
Bafana Bafana (The Boys) and the Super Eagles meet in the central Ivory Coast city of Bouake on Wednesday with a place in the February 11 final on the line.
Nigeria are favourites for several reasons, including a perfect past record against South Africa in the competition with three victories.
The West Africans won a 2000 semi-final in Nigeria 2-0, a 2004 group match in Tunisia 4-0 and a 2019 quarter-final in Egypt 2-1 through a late goal from current captain William Troost-Ekong.
But South Africa, whose starting line-up includes nine locals, one player based in Egypt and another with a Portuguese second-division club, are not without hope, insist Tovey and Williams.
Central defender Tovey captained the 1996 title-winning team and forward Williams came off the bench to score twice within two minutes and sink Tunisia 2-0 in the final in Johannesburg.
Victory for Bafana came one year after the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup and South Africans basked in the sporting successes two years after the collapse of apartheid.