The Super Eagles of Nigeria will play an eighth AFCON Final Sunday after they pipped South Africa 4-2 on penalties after scores after extra time stood at 1-1.
#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023's very own level of drama and entertainment. 🍿
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 7, 2024
From a 🇳🇬 goal to a 🇿🇦 goal in the blink of an eye. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/As3wuDgJK9
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and Kelechi Iheanacho were the heroes for Nigeria during the penalty shootout.
Nwabali saved two penalties, while Iheanacho sealed Nigeria’s qualification to the championship game with the decisive penalty kick goal.
With Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima in the stands at Stade de la Paix in Bouake, captain William Ekong put Nigeria in front from the penalty spot on 64 minutes after Mothobi Mvala fouled Osimhen inside the box.
It was a just reward for a positive restart by the Super Eagles.
Makgopa came close to drawing Bafana Bafana level in the 74th minute, when he turned sharply on the top of the Nigerian box, but his low shot missed target not by much.
However, VAR turned the game on its head on the end of regulation play when South Africa were awarded a penalty for a foul by Alhassan Yusuf on Percy Tau inside the box.
That meant Osimhen’s effort in the 85th minute had to be chalked off.
This was just a moment after goalkeeper Williams had saved off the feet of Ademola Lookman, who had broken free of the Bafana defence.
South Africa could even have won the game in regulation time, but Madau blazed over the crossbar a rebound off a Nwabali save of Mokena’s free kick.
In extra-time, South Africa defender Grant Kekana was sent off for a professional foul on Terem Moffi.
Moffi will then get Nigeria on the road to success in the penalty shootout when he scored the first penalty.
The other scorers for Nigeria were Kenneth Omeruo, Ekong and Iheanacho with Ola Aina the only player to miss from the spot.
The Super Eagles created the first danger of the game in the 13th minute, but somehow goalkeeper Ronwen Williams got a finger tip to a cross on the left by Ola Aina to deny Osimhen a chance to head home.
Just before the half hour mark, Osimhen was blocked from trying an audacious effort from distance after he had sighted the South Africa goalkeeper was well off his lines.
Thereafter, South Africa took control of the game.
Nwabali saved off the feet of Percy Tau in the 35th minute, before the Chippa United goalkeeper pulled off an even better save four minutes when he stretched full length to keep out a shot by Evidence Makgopa.
Super Eagles Starting XI (3-4-3) vs South Africa
Stanley Nwabali – Calvin Bassey, William Ekong (Captain), Semi Ajayi – Ola Aina, Osayi-Samuel (Kenneth Omeruo 120), Frank Onyeka (Joe Aribo 101), Alex Iwobi (Alhassan Yusuf 62) – Ademola Lookman (Kelechi Iheanacho 101), Victor Osimhen (Terem Moffi 110), Moses Simon (Samuel Chukwueze 62)
