National Teams
AFCON 2023: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa [4-2 PK]: Nwabali heroics sends Eagles to 8th final
![AFCON 2023: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa [4-2 PK]: Nwabali heroics sends Eagles to 8th final](https://nigeriafootball.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Troost-Ekong.jpg "AFCON 2023: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa [4-2 PK]: Nwabali heroics sends Eagles to 8th final")
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria’s senior men’s national team emerged as winners of the first semi final match of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a 4-2 win on penalties over 10-man South Africa in Bouake on Wednesday.
The semi-final encounter ended 1-1 in regulation time after Teboho Mokoena late penalty strike cancelled out Williams Troost Ekong’s early second half effort from the spots.
However, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali did enough between the sticks to ensure the West Africans passage to the final of the championship.
Coach Jose Peseiro gave a chance to the side that started the 1-0 win over Angola in the quarter-final, with Bright Osayi Samuel replacing widely criticized Zaidu Sanusi.
Besides Sanusi, others retained their places, with Stanley Nwabali, Ola Aina, William Troost Ekong, Semi Ajayi Frank Onyeka, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and Calvin Bassey starting the match.
On Bafana Bafana’s side, Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, Siyanda Xulu, Aubrey Modiba, Evidence Makgopa, Percy Tau, Themba Zwane, Sphephelo Sithole, Mothobi Mvala, Gomolemo Kekana, and Khuliso Mudau started.
The enterprizing first half was a tight and cagey contest with both sides sizing themselves up before the game eventually opened up after the West Africans early high pressing inside the first 15 minutes.
Bafana Bafana thought they would be awarded a penalty when they seemed to have hit a Nigerian defender’s arm inside the box but the referee and his assistants including the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) overlooked in the 27th minute.
Evidence Makgopa had the best chance of the tie in the 39th minute when he found himself in space on the edge of the box and smashed a glorious-looking effort toward the right side of the goal but Nwabala had a two-handed save.
Tau also had his effort straight at Nwabali as the Super Eagles have their chances but Aina had only headed straight at Williams while Osimhen’s header went wide.
The second half resumed with Nigeria creating chances until the introduction of Samuel Chukwueze and Alhassan Yusuf in place of Simon and Iwobi respectively.
The opening goal came from a tackle inide the box on Osimhen by Mvala in the 64th minute resulting into a penalty as Ekong coolly converted the resulting spot kick in the 67th minute to put the Super Eagles ahead.
A late drama denied Peseiro’s side victory inside 90 minutes as the referee awarded a penalty to Broos’ side in the 88th minute for a foul by Yusuf inside the box before Osimhen’s goal which was canceled after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) call.
Mokoena converted the resulting penalty by sending Nwabali the wrong way in the 90th minute as the equaliser gave South Africa more confidence with late chances from Mokoena and Mudau.
The fiesty encounter entered extra time and penalties where the Super Eagles emerged victorious 4-2 with Kelechi Iheanacho converting the winning spot kick.
Nigeria goalkeeper, Nwabali saved two penalties for the three time African champions during shootouts.
Nigeria will face the winner of the second semifinal match between hosts, Cote D’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final in Abidjan on Sunday.
