AFCON: Nigeria Advances to final, defeats South Africa on penalties

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AFCON: Nigeria Advances to final, defeats South Africa on penalties

By Patrick Keddie

It was a game of penalties as the Super Eagles of Nigeria have defeated South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on penalties.

Nigeria had lost five of their previous six AFCON semifinals and had overcome a very spirited South Africa to reach the final, with the game ultimately decided by penalties in normal time as well as in the shootout.

Kickoff was at 17:00 GMT at Stade Bouake in Ivory Coast.

William Troost-Ekong gave Nigeria the lead from the penalty spot midway through the second half.

Victor Osimhen thought he’d sealed it with a second goal right at the end of 90 minutes, but VAR had spotted a foul before that by Alhassan Pigui on Percy Tau in the box and awarded a penalty to Bafana Bafana – which was converted by Teboho Mokoena.

Nigeria were rocked and South Africa almost won the game when Khuliso Mudau just missed a glorious chance five minutes into stoppage time.

Bafana Bafana lost defender Grant Kekana to a red card in extra time as Nigeria regained control to put them under the cosh, but they held out for penalties – only to crash out after two were saved by Stanley Nwabali

Nigeria winning the semifinal will have to face the winner of Ivory Coast vs the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nigeria are three-time AFCON champions while South Africa won in 1996 at home

Aljezera

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