Super Eagles Beat Bafana Bafana On Penalties To Advance To AFCON Final

Following a pulsating 120 minutes of play and penalties, Nigeria’s Super Eagles advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Ivory Coast.

Nigeria defeated South Africa on penalties in the semi-finals at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Wednesday night (1).

Both teams drew 1-1 in regulation and overtime before the Eagles won 4-2 in the penalty shootout.

The Super Eagles made their record 15th AFCON semi-final appearance, and it was a nerve-racking match that tested them to the limit.

Victor Osimhen was only declared fit on the eve of the match after experiencing abdominal discomfort. However, another injury forced Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro to make a change to his usual starting lineup. Bright Osayi-Samuel replaced the injured Zaidu Sanusi at the back.

Nigeria began with a 3-4-3 formation, which was replicated by Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, and the Eagles struggled in the early stages of the match.

The backline of William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, and Calvin Bassey initially struggled to contain Percy Tau and Evidence Makgopa’s speed and positional awareness.

Stanley Nwabali was forced to make an outstanding save after Makgopa spun on the edge of the box and fired a curler into the top corner.

Nigeria did, however, score the game’s first goal. Mothobi Mvala brought down Osimhen in South Africa’s goal area in the 65th minute. Troost-Ekong made no mistakes with the subsequent penalty.

A brief moment of madness swung the game in Bafana Bafana’s favour late in the second half. Osimhen was wheeling away in celebration of a goal he thought he had scored when a VAR review revealed a foul by Alhassan Yusuf on Percy Tau in the Nigerian box before the goal. South Africa was awarded a penalty, sending Nigerians from joy to despair.

Teboho Mokoena’s spot-kick sent Nwabali in the wrong direction. The game eventually went into overtime and a penalty shootout.