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
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Your support makes all the difference.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 0-0 South Africa
35 mins: A slight opening from Tau but a heavy touch from the forward allows Nwabali to storm off his line and claim the ball.
Nigeria 0-0 South Africa
34 mins: Osayi gets a slight flick on the ball which sends it out for South Africa’s first corner. Tau whips it in from the left but Sithole heads it wide.
Nigeria 0-0 South Africa
30 mins: A speculative effort in every sense of the word from Osimhen as he tries to catch Williams off his line from well inside his own half. The effort is blocked, however.
Nigeria 0-0 South Africa
26 mins: A superb sliding challenge from Onyeka to deny Zwane a great chance. Mudau breaks down the right but the Nigerian midfielder is in the right place to prevent a huge goalscoring opportunity for Bafana Bafana.
There is a brief VAR check for handball but nothing doing.
Nigeria 0-0 South Africa
23 mins: A free-kick in a promising position for the Super Eagle, just out to the left but an enticing distance from goal. Lookman swings in the ball but Ajayi’s header is saved easily by Williams.
Nigeria 0-0 South Africa
20 mins: Goalles it remains after twenty minutes. Both sides still struggling to create opportunities against the other’s defence but Nigeria beginning to assert their dominance in possession.
Nigeria 0-0 South Africa
15 mins: South Africa’s first effort of the game as Sithole lies one up from range. It’s straight down the throat of Nwabali who makes the comfortable save.
Nigeria 0-0 South Africa
13 mins: CLOSE! A dangerous ball in from Aina almost finds Ekong in the box. Williams flaps at the cross and is unable to punch it clear but the ball flies out for a throw-in.
Nigeria 0-0 South Africa
8 mins: Nigeria progress the ball down the right well but a poor cross from Aina is overhit and flies out for a goal-kick.
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