Flying Eagles of Nigeria are through to the semifinals of the football event of the 2019 African Games after they forced hosts Morocco to a 2-2 draw in a final Group A game today in Rabat.
Substitute striker Emeka Chinonso was Nigeria hero when he came off the bench in the second half and snatched the much-needed equalizer in stoppage time.
Morocco took an early lead in the first half when they attacked from the flanks before finishing off the move with a header, which beat goalkeeper Matthew Yakubu in for the injured Detan Ogundare.
The host team had a second goal ruled out for offside, before the Flying Eagles drew level just before halftime from the penalty.
Lively Ahmad Ghali was brought down inside the box and captain Abubakar Ibrahim Babawo put away the penalty kick via a rebound after the Moroccan goalkeeper had first kept it out.
The Junior Atlas regained their lead early in the second half after a Flying Eagles defender handled the ball inside his box and the North Africans converted the resulting penalty.
And just when it seemed the Flying Eagles were crashing out of the tournament as Burkina Faso were beating South Africa 2-0, up stepped Chinonso to rescue the country.