This had been the preview before the match: 
After 28 of the 32 matches of the tournament Nigeria, South-Africa, and Cameroon look like the strongest African teams, with Nigeria getting the price tag for the most exciting.  
But now it is about playing each other and about who will win the Cup (do not forget: outsiders Tunisia are still in the race as well).  
The Nigerians: they did not play each match at the same quality level, but when they were best, they looked irresistible. And the play at home. Their flamboyant style is motored by an unbelievable midfileld with Okocha and Kanu, assisted by Finidi and Adepoju.  
But Okocha is banned after a silly elbow against a Senegalese player and a resulting red card in the quarter finals. And their attack, usually spiced with names like Amokachi, Akpoborie, and Ikpeba has had to play with (young) replacements. Are they (already) good enough for the big matches? 
The South Africans are missing big names upfront as well. No McCarthy, no Masinga, and possibly an injured Bartlett. So the the bright new star Nomvete will try to catch the Nigerians on counter attacks. 
But maybe a surprise will bring up both, Ikpeba and Bartlett for this match. 
Despite prominent names, the biggest question of the match could be the Nigerian concentration. Against Morocco they achieved shutting out the opponent. But overall statisctics are alarming and stunning: 
Since 1994 Nigeria has played 23 matches at big final tournaments, including the 1994 Nations Cup, the 1994 World Cup, the 1996 Olympics, the 1998 World Cup and this Nations Cup.  
Some data: At the 94 Nations Cup they had to come from behind as well at the semi-finals and at the final. At the semi-finals they needed a penalty shoot-out against the equally strong Côte d'Ivoire. At the 1996 Olympics they had to come from behind against both, Brasil at semi-finals and Argentina at the final. In the first round they had not achieved the task against Brasil and would have gone out, if Japan had scored enough goals against Hungary. 
At the 1998 World Cup they fell behind in three of their four matches, the last deficit proved as too big: Danmark continued exploiting the situation and won 4:1. 
Most conspicious: Early conceded goals.  
1994 in the finals against Zambia after 4 minutes, 1996 in the semi-finals against Brasil after 1 minute, and 1996 in the Olympic finals against Argentina after 3 Minutes.  
1998 against Paraguay after 1 minute and two goals against Denmark after 3 and 12 minutes. 
And 2000 against Senegal after 7 minutes when a defensive blunder allowed Fadiga a lot of time to score his goal. 
Only the 1994 World Cup had been 'perfect' in this context. But it saw a situation when losing to Argentina that repeated itself two years later at Atlanta: Nigeria was caught unconcentrated by quickly executed free kicks for smart goals by the Argentinians. 
Comeback adventures might be the most exciting way for their fans to win matches: Nigeria has achieved to win 4 out of those 6 early fall-behinds. But the more experienced the counterparts, the more impossible the task. 
23 matches - 11 fall-behinds during matches in total produced only 5 defeats. 
9 times it was 0:1 and that led only to 3 losses! 
The shutouts were less exciting but effective: 11 matches with 9 wins and only two 0:0 draws in less crucial first round matches. 
The only match where Nigeria took the lead and opponents scored goals was the Nigeria-Tunisia  game of the first round at this Nations Cup. 
Those facts speak for both: the creativity potential of Nigeria and their vulnerability. 
And for an exciting game. 

final result 2:0 
Playing two hosts in a row has proved too much for the South Africans. Nigeria, lifted into the driver's seat by the first minute goal, was unstoppable. They look forward to the climax on Sunday: The Nations Cup final against either Cameroon or Tunisia