The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Wednesday evening became the first side to qualify for the AFCON 2023 final after beating South Africa on penalties.
After extra time, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. The three-time winners will play either the Democratic Republic of the Congo or the hosts, Ivory Coast, in Sunday’s championship match.
Teboho Mokoena equalised with a penalty kick in the ninetieth minute, while Nigeria’s captain William Troost-Ekong scored the first goal after 67 minutes. Both goals during regular time also came from penalties.
After Nigeria believed they had equalised by a tap-in from standout forward Victor Osimhen, Mokoena equalised.
However, after VAR informed the Egyptian referee that South African player Percy Tau had been fouled nearby, and the match official agreed, play was moved back to the opposite end of the pitch.
After goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali parried a free kick by Mokoena, Khuliso Mudau had an opportunity to win for South Africa in additional time, but he shot wide.
After Grant Kekana was sent off for a last-defender foul on 115 minutes, South Africa was reduced to 10 men.
Nigeria had defeated South Africa three times prior to this encounter, giving them a spotless record against them in the major African football championship.
The Super Eagles defeated Bafana Bafana (The Boys) 2-1 in an Egyptian quarterfinal encounter in 2019, 4-0 in a group match in Tunisia four years later, and 2-0 in a Nigerian semi-final in 2000.
Coach Jose Peseiro of Nigeria made one change to the squad that defeated Angola 1-0: he replaced left-back Zaidu Sanusi, who had not practiced the night before, with Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Star attacker Osimhen of Napoli, who delayed his arrival in Bouake from Abidjan due to stomach trouble, started for the three-time champions.