BOUAKE, Ivory Coast, Feb 7 – Keeper Stanley Nwabali saved two penalties as Nigeria edged out South Africa 4-2 on post-match spotkicks to make their first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final since they won it in 2013 under the late Stephen Keshi.
Nwabali denied Teboho Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa, while Mothobi Mvala and Mihlali Mayembela scored two. Nigeria converted four of their five kicks through Terem Moffi, Kenneth Omeruo, skipper William Troost Ekong and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Only Ola Aina missed, as he sent his kick over the bar.
In a dramatic duel, the game was forced into extra time, and ultimately penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The end provided drama, as Nigeria thought they had scored their second at the stroke of 90 minutes through Victor Osimhen, only for VAR to pull back a foul in the build up on Percy Tau in the opposite box for a penalty.
Mokoena stepped up and scored for Bafana, cancelling out Nigeria’s opener, also from a penalty, scored by skipper Troost-Ekong.
The captain had converted a 64th minute penalty after Victor Osimhen was hacked down inside the box by Mvala.
They should have wrapped up the game in the 83rd minute when Samuel Chukwueze sent Ademola Lookman through on goal, but the Atalanta man failed to beat keeper Ronwen Williams one on one.
In the 84th minute, a well executed counter saw Osimhen tap the ball home from the left unmarked off a Samuel Osayi bright cross to send the entire Nigerian team into wild celebrations.
However, VAR checks pulled play back to a foul on Tau by Alhassan Abdullahi as he won the ball for the counter, and the ref awarded a penalty, well converted by Mokoena.
In added time, there was more drama as South Africa were reduced to 10 men with seven minutes to play after Grant Kekana was sent off for a last man foul on Moffi, though it was outside the box.
