'They played well' - Osayi-Samuel reveals what impressed him most about Bafana Bafana in loss to Nigeria 

Bright Osayi-Samuel has admitted that he was left impressed by the performance of the South Africa team despite their loss to Nigeria in the semifinal of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday evening. 

The Super Eagles sealed their spot in the AFCON showpiece after a dramatic encounter that saw them win on penalties thanks to Kelechi Iheanacho's decisive kick. 

Osayi-Samuel benefited from the absence of Zaidu Sanusi who missed the game due to injury, with manager Jose Peseiro deploying the Fenerbahce defender at right wing-back and Ola Aina providing cover for the Porto man. 

The Blackpool academy product highlighted that there's a feeling of togetherness in the South Africa team with ten Mamelodi Sundowns players named in the squad. 

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the game, Osayi-Samuel said: "South Africa is a very good team, they play a lot. I think nine of their players are playing together in the same club so they have got so much chemistry and today they really played well.

"I think we were so resilient, from the goalkeeper to Osimhen, everyone defended well. We worked very hard as a team and when we had to counterattack we did that too, that was our game plan and we executed it very well."

Osayi-Samuel is in contention to feature in his first major final for the Super Eagles less than fifteen months after making his debut in a friendly against Portugal. 

"It's an amazing feeling, first final for me. My first final to be in the AFCON is a dream come true but we're not there yet, we've got one more final and if you look at the whole team everyone is happy.

"Now we need to take this joy that we've got among us to the next game."
 

When asked if he's ready for the final, Osayi-Samuel stated: "Of course we are ready, this is what we have been waiting for. Every game we have been playing, we are growing and growing and it's very hard for teams to break us down.

"That's the main thing. If you can be very good in defense, then if you look at our strikers, our wingers, we are going to of course score."

With the exception of the quarterfinal win against Angola, Osayi-Samuel has been given minutes in all the matches played by the Super Eagles at the 2023 AFCON.

Igho Kingsley 

Photo Credit: safa.net

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