AFCON 2024: Nigeria Beat South Africa To Advance To Final

 

Nigeria have advanced to the final of the 2024 AFCON Cup after outlasting South Africa on penalties (4-2) following a 1-1 draw and will contend for the trophy against the winners between Ivory Coast and DR Congo. 

Victor Osimhen drew the penalty that William Troost-Ekong converted for the Super Eagle to take the lead before the Bafana Bafana side equalised from another penalty converted by Teboho Mokoena on stoppage time. 

Stanley Nwabali later saved two penalties to see Nigeria through the shootouts as Kelechi Iheancho scored his last spot-kick for the side to complete the victory. 

The goal conceded was Nigeria's first since their opening game against Equatorial Guinea (1-1). Nigeria won their last AFCON Cup in 2013 for their third trophy at the tournament. 

Quick Overview

Technically interesting game for both sides through the halves and Nwabali was the star of the game for Nigeria. Besides saving two spot-kicks, he made some fabulous saves to keep Nigeria in the game especially from Evidence Makgopa's curly shot midway of the first half. 

Nigeria had slightly weak midfield whilst the Bafana Bafana exploited the game by playing deep and effectively troubled the Super Eagles' defence. The Super eagles did a good job at the back with the likes of Troost-Ekong and Ajayi keeping Evidence and Teboho's onslaughts in check. 

Getting to outlast the South Africans came off the technical edge of the Nigerian technical crew for having made the right substitutions ahead of the shootouts with the likes of Kelechi Iheancho and Terem Moffi. Replacing Moses Simon with Samuel Chukwueze also bolstered the midfield for much of the second half.