Kelechi Iheanacho scored the profitable penalty as Nigeria booked their place within the 2023 African Cup of Nations ultimate with a 4-2 shootout win in South Africa.
The sport in Bouake ended 1-1 after a outstanding finish to regular time that concerned the referee going to his video monitor to disadmit a strike by Victor Osimhen that will have put Nigeria 2-0 up – and as a substitute awarding a penalty to South Africa.
Teboho Mokoena transformed from the spot within the ninetieth minute to ship the sport right into a goalless interval of additional time the place Bafana Bafana defender Grant Kekana was despatched off late on.
However Mokoena was one among two South African gamers who noticed their fouls saved by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali because the Tremendous Eagles triumphed to succeed in Sunday's ultimate, the place they’ll play. Ivory Coast after the hosts beat DR Congo.
William Troost-Ekong had opened the scoring for the West Africans with a penalty halfway via the second half, and can now look to captain Nigeria to their fourth continental title – and first since 2013.
The Tremendous Eagles beat South Africa once more
Nigeria went into the sport with an ideal Nations Cup document in opposition to South Africa, having overwhelmed Bafana Bafana in all three earlier conferences within the competitors, together with a semi-final assembly in 2000 in Lagos.
However regardless of being urged on by the cacophonous horn part carried by supporters in inexperienced and white, Jose Peseiro's facet didn’t dwell as much as their billing as favorites in a heavy first half which South Africa largely led .
Striker Percy Tau had his greatest probability, scuffing his shot straight at Nwabali when he was unmarked within the penalty space.
Nigeria's lack of energy was mirrored within the stats, with African Footballer of the 12 months Osimhen managing simply 9 touches within the half, together with a header that went huge simply earlier than the break.
However issues then perked up noticeably as Nigeria got here out with higher intent within the second half.
Osimhen put one among a number of presentable headed alternatives over the bar earlier than Frank Onyeka flashed huge.
The Tremendous Eagles lastly broke the impasse within the 67th minute when Osimhen's driving run was abruptly ended within the penalty space by a poor problem from defender Mothobi Mvala.
As within the group stage win in opposition to the Ivory Coast, it was captain Troost-Ekong who assumed the penalty duties as a substitute of Osimhen.
And the previous Watford defender despatched his effort via the center and below the legs of Ronwen Williams, the taking pictures hero for South Africa within the quarter-final win over Cape Verde, because the goalkeeper dived to his left.
After Proof Makgopa skimmed an effort simply huge for South Africa, Ademola Lookman ought to have gained it for Nigeria however hesitated when attempting to spherical Williams, permitting the keeper to dive to his toes and accumulate the ball.
Late drama VAR denies Osimhen
With simply 5 minutes of regular time remaining, Osimhen thought he had sealed victory, turning residence Vibrant Osayi-Samuel's low cross after a fast counter-attack and sprinting in the direction of the Nigeria followers for a short-lived celebration.
South Africa's gamers had already protested earlier than referee Amin Omar was suggested to go to the monitor by the video assistant referee, with the Egyptian shortly ruling out Osimhen's strike and, in one other late twist on this outstanding match , point out the situation to the opposite. ends with an early foul on Tau by Alhassan Yusuf.
Mokoena stored his cool to transform the penalty and deny Nigeria 5 consecutive clear sheets – and South Africa ought to have gained in six minutes of added time when Khuliso Mudau simply managed to faucet over after Nwabali parried Mokoena's free-kick in his means
Williams saved efforts from Lookman and Osimhen in the beginning of additional time, however the most effective opening got here when Terem Moffi latched on to a via ball and ran powerfully in the direction of the South Africa aim.
However Kekana stopped the substitute's run with a visit and, following a VAR assessment, he was proven a straight purple card and Nigeria had been awarded a free kick simply exterior the world.
Iheanacho drew a save from Williams from the set piece however determined the shootout after Nwabali had saved from Mokoena and Makgopa, with the Bafana Bafana captain unable to repeat his heroics from the final eight.
Line ups
Nigeria
Formation 3-4-3
- 23Nwabali
- 6Ajayi
- 5Troost-EkongBooked at 120 minutes
- 21Bassey
- 12Osayi-SamuelSubstituted forHomerto 120+2'minutes
- 8Have a look at itBooked at 101 minutesSubstituted forI’mto 102'minutes
- 17IwobiSubstituted forYusufto 63'minutes
- 2All the time
- 15SimonSubstituted forChukwuezeto 63'minutes
- 9OsimhenSubstituted forMoffito 110'minutes
- 18LookmanSubstituted forIheanachoto 102'minutes
Substitutes
- 1you need
- 4Yusuf
- 7Musa
- 10I’m
- 11Chukwueze
- 13Onyemaechi
- 14Iheanacho
- 16Ojo
- 20Awazeem
- 22Homer
- 24Moffi
- 25onyedika
South Africa
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Williams
- 20Moved
- 18KekanaBooked at 115 minutes
- 5XuluSubstituted forMayambelato 75'minutes
- 14Shut it
- 6Modify
- 10Sure
- 4Mokoena
- 13We came upon
- 11referred to asSubstituted forLepasato 75'minutesSubstituted forSibisito 117'minutes
- 9The shells
Substitutes
- 2Furnishings
- 3Mashego
- 7Appollis
- 8Adams
- 15Monk
- 16Individual
- 17Lepasa
- 19Sibisi
- 21Mayambela
- 22Goss
- 23Morena
- Referee:
- Amin Mohamed Omar
Reside textual content
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Match ends, Nigeria 1 (4), South Africa 1 (2).
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Penalties finish, Nigeria 1 (4), South Africa 1 (2).
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Purpose! Nigeria 1 (4), South Africa 1 (2). Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the underside proper nook.
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Purpose! Nigeria 1 (3), South Africa 1 (2). Mothobi Mvala (South Africa) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the middle of the aim.
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Purpose! Nigeria 1 (3), South Africa 1 (1). William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside left nook.
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Penalty saved. Proof Makgopa (South Africa) proper footed shot is saved within the heart of the aim.
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Penalty miss. Ola Aina (Nigeria) proper footed shot is simply too excessive.
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Purpose! Nigeria 1 (2), South Africa 1 (1). Mihlali Mayambela (South Africa) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside proper nook.
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Purpose! Nigeria 1(2), South Africa 1. Kenneth Omeruo (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside left nook.
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Penalty saved. Teboho Mokoena (South Africa) proper footed shot is saved within the backside left nook.
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Purpose! Nigeria 1(1), South Africa 1. Terem Moffi (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a left footed shot within the heart of the aim.
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Penalty shootout begins Nigeria 1, South Africa 1.
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Second half additional time ends, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1.
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Alternative, Nigeria. Kenneth Omeruo replaces Vibrant Osayi-Samuel.
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Foul by Sphephelo Sithole (South Africa).
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Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria) wins a free kick in their very own half.
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William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) is proven the yellow card for a foul foul.
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Mihlali Mayambela (South Africa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria).
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Nook, Nigeria. Nook awarded by Mothobi Mvala.
