The Super Eagles of Nigeria are through to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Bafana Bafana of South Africa 4-2 on penalties in a dramatic game at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, Wednesday night which ended 1-1 in regulation and extra time.
Star striker Victor Osimhen won a penalty for Nigeria which Captain William Troost-Ekong converted in the 67th minute to give the Super Eagles the league.
With just five minutes of normal time remaining, Osimhen thought he had clinched victory when he tapped in Bright Osayi-Samuel’s low cross following a swift counter-attack and sprinting towards the Nigeria fans for wild celebrations that was short-lived.
Egyptian referee Amin Omar was advised to go to the monitor by the video assistant referee and he ruled out the goal and awarded a penalty to South Africa for a foul on Percy Tau by Alhassan Yusuf.
Teboho Mokoena converted the penalty in the 90th minute to deny Nigeria five consecutive clean sheets in the tournament.South Africa should had a glorious chance to win the game in the six minutes of added time but Khuliso Mudau blazed over tge bar after Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali parried Mokoena’s free-kick into his path.
South Africa were reduced to 10 men after Grant Kekana was shown a straight red card for bringing down Terem Moffi who was through on goal after VAR intervention 6 minutes to the end of the game.
Nwabali was Nigeria’s hero in the penalty shootout as he saved two South African kicks.
Ola Aina was the only Nigerian to miss in the shootout as Moffi, Kenneth Omeruo, Troost-Ekong all converted before Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winning kick. Nigeria will face hosts Cote D’Ivoire in the final on Sunday after Sebastian Haller scored the only goal of the game in the 65th minute.
Nigeria defeated Cote D’Ivoire 1-0 when they met in Group A.