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Nigeria vs South Africa LIVE: Afcon semi-final result and reaction as Super Eagles win penalty shootout

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa (4-2 pens): Super Eagles advance to final after dramatic penalty shootout victory

Ben Fleming
Wednesday 07 February 2024 20:45 GMT
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Nigeria fans celebrate reaching AFCON final

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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.

Relive all the action below.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

93 mins: Williams does well to palm away a sharp effort and deny Lookman and Nigeria once again.

Ben Fleming7 February 2024 19:05

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

91 mins: And we’re back underway in extra-time.

Ben Fleming7 February 2024 19:02

EXTRA-TIME! Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

We’ll need at least another 30 minutes to separate these two sides as the ref blows the full-time whistle.

Ben Fleming7 February 2024 18:59

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

90+6 mins: HOW HAS HE MISSED!? Modiba’s free-kick is saved by Nwabali but the loose ball drops to Mudau who somehow skews his effort over the bar from no more than five yards out.

What a chance to win it for South Africa.

Ben Fleming7 February 2024 18:57

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

90+5 mins: South Africa, now, looking for a late winner. Tau’s low ball into the box can’t be turned home but Bafana Bafana now have a free-kick about 30 yards from goal.

They couldn’t, could they...

Ben Fleming7 February 2024 18:55

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

90+3 mins: Makgopa attempts and acrobatic finish but the ball flies out for a goal-kick.

Ben Fleming7 February 2024 18:53

GOAL! Nigeria 1-1 South Africa (Mokoena, 90 mins)

South Africa equalise! Mokoena sends Nwabali the wrong way and this is now surely heading for extra-time.

Ben Fleming7 February 2024 18:50

DISALLOWED! Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

DRAMA! Not only is the goal ruled out for a foul but Yusuf’s tackle on Tau was inside the box and now South Africa have a penalty and a chance to level this match in the dying moments.

Ben Fleming7 February 2024 18:48

GOAL! Nigeria 2-0 South Africa (Osimhen, 85 mins)

And that could be that!

A superb counter-attack from the Super Eagles delivers what should be the match-winning moment. Lookman feeds Osayi-Samuel down the right and his low ball into the box is tapped home by Osimhen, unmarked at the back post.

But wait, now there’s a VAR check for a foul in the build-up.

Ben Fleming7 February 2024 18:45

Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

84 mins: CLOSE! Superb keeping by Williams to keep his side in the game. Lookman bursts clear inside the box but the Nigerian forward is unable to round the South African keeper who superbly claims the ball.

Ben Fleming7 February 2024 18:44

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