Nwabali targets record held by Shorunmu, Aina overtakes Eguavoen, 6 other things to note on Nigeria starting XI 

Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro has announced his starting lineup for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal match against South Africa  at the Stade de la Paix, Bouaké on Wednesday, kickoff 1800 hours. 

Allnigeriasoccer.com's editorial staff  brings you eight things to note on the starting lineup to face Bafana Bafana. 

1) The average age of today's starting lineup is 26.91 years, with William Troost-Ekong the oldest at 30 years and 159 days and Calvin Bassey the youngest at 24 years and 38 days. 

2) Five members of the starting lineup are 26 and younger: Frank Onyeka, Ademola Lookman and Bright Osayi-Samuel (26), Victor Osimhen (25) and Calvin Bassey (24). 

3) Chelsea academy product Ola Aina makes his fourteenth career appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations, overtaking legendary Super Eagles right-back Augustine Eguavoen who amassed 13 appearances across three tournaments. 

4) William Troost-Ekong captains the Super Eagles for the ninth time at the AFCON. Nigeria have lost just once with the central defender wearing the armband, against Tunisia in a round of 16 clash at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

5) Ademola Lookman is aiming to become the fourth Nigerian player to score four goals in the knockout rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations, after Rashidi Yekini (6), Odion Ighalo (4) and Austin Okocha (4). 

6) Stanley Nwabali has gone 404 minutes without conceding a goal at the Africa Cup of Nations. If the Chippa United glovesman is not beaten by the 47th minute mark against South Africa, he will break a Nigerian record held by Ike Shorunmu who went 450 minutes without conceding across six games. 

7) Victor Osimhen has not scored in his last four games - his second longest run of games without getting on the scoresheet for the Super Eagles. 

8) Alex Iwobi and Troost-Ekong are the only two survivors of the starting lineup narrowly beaten by Algeria in the semifinal of the 2019 AFCON.

Super Eagles starting XI against Bafana Bafana: Nwabali; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey;  Osayi-Samuel, Onyeka, Iwobi, Aina; Lookman, Osimhen, Moses Simon

Substitutes: Uzoho, Alhassan, Musa, Aribo, Chukwueze, Iheanacho, Onuachu, Awaziem, Omeruo, Moffi, Onyedika 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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