Kelechi Iheanacho scored the successful penalty as Nigeria booked their place within the last of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a 4-2 shootout win over South Africa.
The sport in Bouake completed 1-1 following a exceptional finish to regular time which concerned the referee going to his video monitor to disallow a Victor Osimhen strike which might have put Nigeria 2-0 up – and as an alternative awarding a penalty to South Africa.
Teboho Mokoena transformed from the spot within the ninetieth minute to ship the sport right into a goalless interval of additional time the place Bafana Bafana defender Grant Kekana was despatched off late on.
However Mokoena was certainly one of two South African gamers to see their spot-kicks saved by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali because the Tremendous Eagles triumphed to achieve Sunday’s last, the place they are going to play Ivory Coast after the hosts beat DR Congo.
William Troost-Ekong had opened the scoring for the West Africans with a penalty halfway by the second half, and can now be trying to captain Nigeria to their fourth continental title – and a primary since 2013.
Tremendous Eagles overcome South Africa once more
Nigeria went into the sport with an ideal Nations Cup document in opposition to South Africa, having crushed Bafana Bafana in all three of their earlier conferences within the competitors together with a semi-final assembly in 2000 in Lagos.
However regardless of being urged on by the cacophonous horn part carried by the supporters in inexperienced and white, Jose Peseiro’s facet didn’t stay up their billing as favourites in a ponderous first half which South Africa largely bossed.
Ahead Percy Tau had their finest probability, scuffing his shot straight at Nwabali when unmarked contained in the penalty space.
Nigeria’s lack of efficiency was mirrored within the statistics, with African Footballer of the 12 months Osimhen solely managing 9 touches within the half, together with a header which went huge simply earlier than the break.
However issues then livened up notably as Nigeria got here out with better intent within the second half.
Osimhen put certainly one of a number of presentable headed alternatives over the bar earlier than Frank Onyeka blazed wastefully huge.
The Tremendous Eagles lastly broke the impasse within the 67th minute when Osimhen’s driving run was abruptly ended contained in the penalty space by a poor problem from defender Mothobi Mvala.
As within the group stage win in opposition to Ivory Coast, it was captain Troost-Ekong who assumed penalty duties relatively than Osimhen.
And the previous Watford defender despatched his effort down the center and beneath the legs of Ronwen Williams, the shootout hero for South Africa within the quarter-final win over Cape Verde, because the goalkeeper dived to his left.
After Proof Makgopa had fizzed a skimming effort simply huge for South Africa, Ademola Lookman ought to have received it for Nigeria however hesitated when attempting to spherical Williams, permitting the keeper to dive at his ft and collect the ball.
Late VAR drama denies Osimhen
With simply 5 minutes of regular time remaining, Osimhen thought he had clinched victory, turning dwelling Vivid Osayi-Samuel’s low cross following a swift counter-attack and sprinting in the direction of the Nigeria followers for a celebration that was short-lived.
South Africa’s gamers have been already protesting earlier than referee Amin Omar was suggested to go to the monitor by the video assistant referee, with the Egyptian shortly ruling out Osimhen’s strike and, in one more late twist at this exceptional event, pointing to the spot on the different finish for an earlier foul on Tau by Alhassan Yusuf.
Mokoena saved his calm to transform the penalty and deny Nigeria 5 consecutive clear sheets – and South Africa ought to have received it within the six minutes of added time when Khuliso Mudau solely succeeded in blazing over after Nwabali parried Mokoena’s free-kick into his path.
Williams saved efforts from Lookman and Osimhen early in additional time however one of the best opening got here when Terem Moffi latched on to a by ball and ran powerfully in the direction of the South Africa aim.
However Kekana stopped the substitute’s run with a visit and, following a VAR assessment, was proven a straight crimson card and Nigeria have been awarded a free-kick simply outdoors the realm.
Iheanacho drew a save from Williams from the set piece however determined the shootout after Nwabali had saved from Mokoena and Makgopa, with the Bafana Bafana captain unable to repeat his heroics from the final eight.
![Stanley Nwabali saves a penalty for Nigeria against South Africa](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/8208/production/_132588233_gettyimages-1986202486.jpg)
Line-ups
Nigeria
Formation 3-4-3
- 23Nwabali
- 6Ajayi
- 5Troost-EkongBooked at 120mins
- 21Bassey
- 12Osayi-SamuelSubstituted forOmeruoat 120+2′minutes
- 8OnyekaBooked at 101minsSubstituted forAriboat 102′minutes
- 17IwobiSubstituted forYusufat 63′minutes
- 2Aina
- 15SimonSubstituted forChukwuezeat 63′minutes
- 9OsimhenSubstituted forMoffiat 110′minutes
- 18LookmanSubstituted forIheanachoat 102′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Uzoho
- 4Yusuf
- 7Musa
- 10Aribo
- 11Chukwueze
- 13Onyemaechi
- 14Iheanacho
- 16Ojo
- 20Awaziem
- 22Omeruo
- 24Moffi
- 25Onyedika
South Africa
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Williams
- 20Mudau
- 18KekanaBooked at 115mins
- 5XuluSubstituted forMayambelaat 75′minutes
- 14Mvala
- 6Modiba
- 10Tau
- 4Mokoena
- 13Sithole
- 11ZwaneSubstituted forLepasaat 75′minutesSubstituted forSibisiat 117′minutes
- 9Makgopa
Substitutes
- 2Mobbie
- 3Mashego
- 7Appollis
- 8Adams
- 15Monare
- 16Mothwa
- 17Lepasa
- 19Sibisi
- 21Mayambela
- 22Goss
- 23Morena
- Referee:
- Amin Mohamed Omar
Dwell Textual content
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Match ends, Nigeria 1(4), South Africa 1(2).
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Penalty Shootout ends, Nigeria 1(4), South Africa 1(2).
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Purpose! Nigeria 1(4), South Africa 1(2). Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the underside proper nook.
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Purpose! Nigeria 1(3), South Africa 1(2). Mothobi Mvala (South Africa) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the centre of the aim.
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Purpose! Nigeria 1(3), South Africa 1(1). William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside left nook.
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Penalty saved. Proof Makgopa (South Africa) proper footed shot saved within the centre of the aim.
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Penalty missed. Ola Aina (Nigeria) proper footed shot is only a bit too excessive.
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Purpose! Nigeria 1(2), South Africa 1(1). Mihlali Mayambela (South Africa) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside proper nook.
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Purpose! Nigeria 1(2), South Africa 1. Kenneth Omeruo (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside left nook.
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Penalty saved. Teboho Mokoena (South Africa) proper footed shot saved within the backside left nook.
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Purpose! Nigeria 1(1), South Africa 1. Terem Moffi (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the centre of the aim.
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Penalty Shootout begins Nigeria 1, South Africa 1.
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Second Half Additional Time ends, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1.
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Substitution, Nigeria. Kenneth Omeruo replaces Vivid Osayi-Samuel.
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Foul by Sphephelo Sithole (South Africa).
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Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) is proven the yellow card for a foul foul.
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Mihlali Mayambela (South Africa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria).
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Nook, Nigeria. Conceded by Mothobi Mvala.