Nigeria 1 (4) – 1 (2) South Africa: AFCON Semi Final Results

Nigeria booked their place in their first Africa Cup of Nations final since 2013 after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over South Africa.

After a slow first half, the Super Eagles took the lead from the spot when William Troost-Ekong fired home from the spot after Victor Osimhen was brought down.

The favourites thought they had doubled the lead in the dying moments of regular time when Osimhen slammed home but a VAR check not only ruled out the goal but awarded South Africa a penalty after Alhassan Yusuf fouled Percy Tau inside the box.

Teboho Mokoena levelled from the spot before Khuliso Mudau spurned a golden opportunity to win the game for Bafana Bafana in the dying moments.

Grant Kekana saw red for South Africa in an otherwise quiet extra-time before Nigeria emerged victorious from the penalty shootout.

NIGERIA VS SOUTH AFRICA

• Nigeria book place in Sunday’s final after dramatic penalty shootout win
• ‘115 RED CARD! Kekana sees red after VAR check (NGA 1-1 RSA)
• ‘90+6 CHANCE! Mudau spurns golden late opportunity (NGA 1-1 RSA)
• ‘90 GOAL! Mokoena equalises after VAR drama (NGA 1-1 RSA)
• ‘67 GOAL! Troost-Ekong converts from spot (NGA 1-0 RSA)

Nigeria beat South Africa on penalties to reach AFCON final after VAR drama

Nigeria reached an eighth Africa Cup of Nations final after winning a drama-fuelled last-four clash with South Africa on penalties.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the hero for Nigeria after he saved efforts by Teboho Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa in a 4-2 shoot-out win, which only told half the story of an extraordinary clash where VAR was at the forefront of the action.

Nigeria thought they had booked their place in the final when Victor Osimhen tapped home in the 85th minute to add to William Troost-Ekong’s second-half penalty, but referee Amin Omar was told to intervene.

A review of the goal showed South Africa’s Percy Tau had been fouled inside the penalty area at the start of the move and the score went from 2-0 to Nigeria to 1-1 when Mokoena made no mistake from 12 yards.

South Africa defender Grant Kekana also received his marching orders towards the end of extra-time before Nwabali made the difference to fire the 2013 winners into another final.

Nigeria beat South Africa on penalties to reach AFCON final after VAR drama

Nigeria won 4-2 on penalties after a VAR-dominated semi-final showdown with South Africa.

Big weekend ahead

So, South Africa will face either Ivory Coast or DR Congo in the third-place play-off on Saturday. That match will kick off at 8pm.

And then a day later, it will be Nigeria taking on the winner of the second semi-final in the main event, with kick-off also at 8pm.

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