AFCON 2023: Nigeria defeat South Africa to secure place in eighth final

The Super of Eagles of Nigeria confirmed their place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire courtesy of a penalty shootout victory over South Africa at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, today February 7, 2024. It will be the eighth time the West African side will be playing at the tournament’s final.

The three-time African champions who last won the tournament in 2013 were caged in the opening minutes of the encounter by a South African side that was eyeing their first AFCON trophy since they last won it in 1996.

Hugo Broos’s side had their clearest chance around the 30th minute of the encounter through Al Ahly’s Percy Tau, but the forward’s effort was saved by the ever-reliable Stanley Nwabali.

A few minutes later, the Chippa United goalkeeper was called upon again, this time saving a curling effort from Evidence Makgopa to keep Nigeria in the game ahead of the halftime break.

About 22 minutes into the second half, Victor Osimhen made up for his first-half miss by winning a penalty for his side after his drive into the box was halted by a clumsy challenge from Mothobi Mvala.

Nigeria’s captain Troost-Ekong stood up like he did against Côte d’Ivoire, and placed his effort beneath Ronwen Williams to renew the hopes of Nigerians before a dramatic turn of events ensued at a sparsely filled Stade de la Paix.

Osimhen thought he had doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 85th minute, but a Video Assistant Referee’s (VAR) review spotted a foul from Alhassan Yusuf in the box to turn the game around.

The unbelievable twist earned South Africa a penalty, and Teboho Mokoena stepped up to send Nwabali the wrong way in the 90th minute to draw the game into extra time.

Both countries had opportunities to nip the win in the extra time, with Nigeria particularly coming the closest when substitute Terem Moffi who was clear on goal was brought down by Grant Kekana.

A lengthy VAR review adjudged the tackle to have happened outside the box, so a red card to Kekana and a free kick were all Jose Peseiro’s men could make out of the promising opportunity, as the game headed for a penalty shootout.

The penalty shootout saw Nwabali save two, as Kelechi Iheanacho converted the decisive last kick to send Nigeria into the AFCON 2023 final where they’ll face the winner between Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of Congo later today.