Nigeria vs South Africa; Who has a better head-to-head win record in football history?
Beyond football and the upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers, the rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa is also apparent in music and other competitions. After more than 10 meetings in football, the question remains: which country has a better head-to-head win record?
The upcoming World Cup qualifiers match between Nigeria and South Africa ahead of the 2026 edition of the competition is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games for football enthusiasts worldwide with the head to head stats of the meeting indicating that there is much to play for.
The fixture has sparked numerous debates on its significance to football heritage, and statistics show that the two teams have faced each other over 10 times in history. This has raised the question of which team has a better record of wins in all their past meetings.
When is the Nigeria vs South Africa AFCON semi-final match?
The Nigeria vs South Africa World Cup 2026 qualifiers fixture will be played on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the
Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria at 8 pm West Africa Time.
Where to watch Nigeria vs South Africa?
An official channel where the Super Eagles of Nigeria vs South Africa World Cup 2026 qualifiers has not been confirmed yet. Speculations however suggest that the games will be available for viewing on the following channels:
| Online Streaming | TV Channel |
|---|---|
| Startimes app, SABC app, FIFA + | Nigeria: NTA Sports 24, Startimes South Africa: SABC Sport |
Who is better in Nigeria or South Africa?
With a total of 15 meetings between the two sides, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have defeated South Africa 8 times with South Africa having an edge over Nigeria only 2 times with the remaining 3 fixtures ending in a draw.
The AFCON 2023 competition marked the most recent meeting between Nigeria and South Africa, during which Nigeria emerged victorious in a penalty shootout. William Troost-Ekong netted the opening goal for Nigeria in the second half from the penalty spot, putting them in a favourable position.
Teboho Mokoena successfully converted a penalty for South Africa in the 90th minute, leading the match into extra time. The outcome of the game was determined by a penalty shootout, with Nigeria prevailing 4-2.
Here is a full breakdown of the Nigeria vs South Africa Head to Head:
| Game Number | Date | Competition | Winning team | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 10, 1992 | FIFA World Cup | Nigeria | 4-0 |
| 2 | January 16, 1993 | FIFA World Cup | Draw | 0-0 |
| 3 | February 10, 2000 | AFCON | Nigeria | 2-0 |
| 4 | January 31, 2004 | AFCON | Nigeria | 4-0 |
| 5 | November 17, 2004 | Friendly | South Africa | 2-1 |
| 6 | June 01, 2008 | FIFA World Cup | Nigeria | 2-0 |
| 7 | September 06, 2008 | FIFA World Cup | Nigeria | 1-0 |
| 8 | August 14, 2013 | Friendly | Nigeria | 2-0 |
| 9 | September 10, 2014 | AFCON | Draw | 0-0 |
| 10 | November 19, 2014 | AFCON | Draw | 2-2- |
| 11 | March 29, 2015 | Friendly | Draw | 1-1 |
| 12 | June 10, 2017 | AFCON | South Africa | 2-0 |
| 13 | November 17, 2019 | AFCON | Draw | 1-1 |
| 14 | July 10, 2019 | AFCON | Nigeria | 2-1 |
| 15 | February 7, 2024 | AFCON | Nigeria | 4-2 (On pens) |
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