KELECHI Ihenacho scored the winning penalty for Super Eagles as Nigeria dumped Bafana Bafana of South Africa out of Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast (AFCON) 2023.
Nigeria opened the scoring in the 67th minute through a penalty after Osimhen made his mark. He gets the ball and runs at three South African defenders only for Mothobi Mvala to step across the striker and bring him down.
William Troost-Ekong, the former Watford defender and current Nigeria captain, took charge and scored.
Bafana Keeper, Ronwen Williams dives to his left, Troost-Ekong side foots the ball down the middle. It’s not the best penalty by any means, but it is in the back of the net
In the 90th minute, Nigeria think they have got a second, with Victor Osimhen putting the ball in the net.
But after a VAR review, the referee not only cancels out the goal, but then awards South Africa a penalty for a foul, before Nigeria’s subsequent counter-attack.
In the last minute of normal time, Teboho Mokoena steps up to smash the ball into the net. A leveller that took the game to extra-time with a 1-1 score line.
The extra-time ended with no goals and the game went to penalties.
Nigeria breezed into the final of the AFCON after defeating South Africa 4-2 in the resulting shootout.
The Super Eagles will take on either Ivory Coast or DR Congo in the final on Sunday.
South Africa will face the loser of the second semi-final in the third-fourth place play-off on Saturday.
