The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has issued an advisory to its citizens living there to refrain from openly celebrating in case Nigeria’s Super Eagles beat South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the African Cup Of Nations AFCON semi-finals.

In a statement to Nigerian citizens living in Pretoria, the High Commission warned that the Super Eagles fans could face hostility from the Bafana Bafana fans.

The commission said its attention had been drawn to potentially inflammatory comments made by a section of South Africans against Nigerians living in South Africa before the semifinal match between the two countries in the African Cup of Nations 

Bafana Bafana faces old-time foes, Nigeria, in the first semifinal on Wednesday, 7th February, in what will be a repeat of the 2000 semifinal that saw the Super Eagles overcome the 1996 champions 2-0 in Lagos.

The rivalry between the two sides will be renewed in Cote d’Ivoire as Nigeria chases their fourth title, while South Africa looks ahead to what has been an elusive second.

Following the 2000 semifinal defeat, the Super Eagles edged Bafana Bafana in the quarterfinals in the 2019 edition in Egypt with a narrow 2-1 win.

The two sides have met 14 times, with the Super Eagles enjoying a lion’s share of the results with 7 victories against 2 for South Africa, with the remaining 5 ending in stalemates.

This will be another entry for the rich history books of African football, with Bafana Bafana now under the guidance of two former African champions against a star-studded Super Eagles side.

ALSO READ: Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen a doubt for AFCON semi-final after failing to travel with squad