Super Eagles beat South Africa to reach AFCON final

The Super Eagles of Nigeria beat Bafana Bafana of South Africa 4-2 in penalties to reach the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.

The Super Eagles secured a penalty after African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen was brought down in the box by Mothobi Mvala (South Africa) at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, Ivory Coast.

Nigeria led 1-0 in the 67th minute when Captain William Troost-Ekong converted a low-driven penalty into the middle of the net fooling Ronwen Williams in goal.

Nigeria thought they had sealed the game with a 2-0 lead when Osimhen scored as he latched on to a pass inside the penalty box and fired a perfect low strike, which went inside the left post. However, a VAR review verdict said that there was no goal for Nigeria due to a foul in the build-up play. The decision was overturned, and a penalty was given to South Africa.

Bafana Bafana reacted with a 1-1 goal from the spot when Teboho Mokoena of South Africa played the penalty past Stanley Nwabili into the bottom left corner.

South Africa had the clearest chance to seal the game after Evidence Makgopa had his shot flashed high over the bar after beating the defender, following a rebound after a freekick saved by Nwabali.

The game, which entered extra time, saw big chances from both teams.

Moffi was brought down at the edge of the box. South Africa was shown a red card following the tackle.

Both regular-time goals also came from penalties with captain William Troost-Ekong scoring after 67 minutes for Nigeria and Teboho Mokoena equalised from a 90th-minute spot-kick.

South Africa finished with 10 men when Grant Kekana was sent off on 115 minutes for a last-defender foul.

Nigeria entered the match with a perfect record against South Africa in the premier African football competition having won three previous meetings.

The Super Eagles beat Bafana Bafana (The Boys) 2-0 in a 2000 semi-final in Nigeria, 4-0 in a group match four years later in Tunisia and 2-1 in a 2019 quarter-final in Egypt.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho scored to give Nigeria a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over South Africa on Wednesday after an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final thriller in Bouake.

The match finished 1-1 after extra time and the three-time champions will face hosts Ivory Coast or the Democratic Republic of Congo, who meet later, in the final on Sunday.

Nigeria’s performance in the AFCON has brought the Super Eagles to the final as they strive to secure another AFCON trophy.