Nigeria's Tremendous Eagles have superior to the ultimate of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the primary time since successful the competitors in 2013 after battling via a pulsating penalty shootout in an exciting semi-final towards South Africa.
After a 1-1 draw after common time and the following half-hour of additional time, it was Nigeria who got here out on prime 4-2 on penalties, with Kelechi Iheanacho tapping within the decisive penalty to place the three-time champions within the deep pitched. Sunday's showpiece towards host nation Ivory Coast or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nigeria took the lead within the 67th minute of the match via captain William Troost-Ekong from the penalty spot after Victor Osimhen was introduced down within the 18-year-old space.
Teboho Mokoena then made South Africa 1-1, additionally from the penalty spot, within the ninetieth minute after Alhassan Yusuf, who changed Alex Iwobi after 63 minutes, fouled Percy Tau.
The penalty was awarded to the Bafana Bafana after a prolonged overview by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), with the top referee additionally wanting on the monitor earlier than giving it.
Earlier than that, nevertheless, there was a dramatic twist, when Osimhen thought he had scored a second for Nigeria, however the aim was disallowed after VAR noticed a late deal with by Yusuf on Tau within the reverse penalty seconds earlier. That sensationally gave Bafana Bafana a late lifeline, and Mokoena held his nerve from the spot to stage the scores within the last minute of the 90'.
And the South Africans might have gained within the dying seconds of stoppage time, however Khuliso Mudau fired over the road and the aim was at his mercy.
Within the a hundred and fifteenth minute of the match, when additional time had elapsed, Terem Moffi, who changed Osimhen, was via on aim earlier than being introduced down by Grant Kekana, who was additionally proven a crimson card.
Nevertheless, regardless of having yet another participant, the Tremendous Eagles couldn’t rating the successful aim because the match went to penalties with Moffi, Kenneth Omeruo and Troost-Ekong scoring their penalties.
South Africa did not convert two of their first three penalties, with Stanley Nwabili saving from Mokoena and Makgopa. And regardless of Ola Aina throwing away his penalty, Iheanacho stored his cool to attain and assist the Tremendous Eagles win 4-2 and attain the ultimate of AFCON 2023.
