In a nail-biting semifinal match, Nigeria secured their spot in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by defeating South Africa in a dramatic penalty shootout. Kelechi Iheanacho emerged as the hero, scoring the winning penalty in the 4-2 shootout victory.
The intense showdown took place in Bouake and ended with a 1-1 draw after regular time. The game saw a series of remarkable events, including a disallowed goal for Nigeria by Victor Osimhen, who was initially awarded a goal but later penalized, leading to a penalty kick for South Africa.
Teboho Mokoena capitalized on the opportunity, converting the penalty in the 90th minute, thereby equalizing the score and sending the match into extra time. The tension escalated when Bafana Bafana defender Grant Kekana received a red card late in the game, leaving his team with ten players.
Despite the added time, neither team could break the deadlock, leading to a penalty shootout. South Africa’s hopes were dashed when two of their players failed to convert their penalties, with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali making crucial saves for the Super Eagles.
With this hard-fought victory, Nigeria advances to the final, set to take place on Sunday. Their opponents will be determined in the match between hosts Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Football fans eagerly anticipate what promises to be an electrifying final showdown in the Africa Cup of Nations.
