Nigeria reach Afcon final after penalty shootout

Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winning penalty as Nigeria booked their place in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a 4-2 shootout win over South Africa.

The game in Bouake finished 1-1 following a remarkable end to normal time which involved the referee going to his video monitor to disallow a Victor Osimhen strike which would have put Nigeria 2-0 up - and instead awarding a penalty to South Africa.

Teboho Mokoena converted from the spot in the 90th minute to send the game into a goalless period of extra-time where Bafana Bafana defender Grant Kekana was sent off late one.

But Mokoena was one of two South African players to see their spot-kicks saved by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as the Super Eagles triumphed to reach Sunday's final, where they will play either hosts Ivory Coast or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Nigeria

Formation 3-4-3

23Nwabali
6Ajayi
5Troost-EkongBooked at 120mins
21Bassey
12Osayi-Samuel
Substituted forOmeruoat 120+2'minutes
8OnyekaBooked at 101mins
Substituted forAriboat 102'minutes
17Iwobi
Substituted forYusufat 63'minutes
2Aina
15Simon
Substituted forChukwuezeat 63'minutes
9Osimhen
Substituted forMoffiat 110'minutes
18Lookman
Substituted forIheanachoat 102'minutes

Substitutes

1Uzoho
4Yusuf
7Musa
10Aribo
11Chukwueze
13Onyemaechi
14Iheanacho
16Ojo
20Awaziem
22Omeruo
24Moffi
25Onyedika

South Africa

Formation 5-4-1

1Williams
20Mudau
18KekanaBooked at 115mins
5Xulu
Substituted forMayambelaat 75'minutes
14Mvala
6Modiba
10Tau
4Mokoena
13Sithole
11Zwane
Substituted forLepasaat 75'minutes

Substituted forSibisiat 117'minutes
9Makgopa

Substitutes

2Mobbie
3Mashego
7Appollis
8Adams
15Monare
16Mothwa
17Lepasa
19Sibisi
21Mayambela
22Goss
23Morena

Referee:: Amin Mohamed Omar

Match Stats

Live Text

Match ends, Nigeria 1(4), South Africa 1(2).
Penalty Shootout ends, Nigeria 1(4), South Africa 1(2).
Goal! Nigeria 1(4), South Africa 1(2). Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal! Nigeria 1(3), South Africa 1(2). Mothobi Mvala (South Africa) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Goal! Nigeria 1(3), South Africa 1(1). William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty saved. Evidence Makgopa (South Africa) right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.
Penalty missed. Ola Aina (Nigeria) right footed shot is just a bit too high.
Goal! Nigeria 1(2), South Africa 1(1). Mihlali Mayambela (South Africa) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal! Nigeria 1(2), South Africa 1. Kenneth Omeruo (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty saved. Teboho Mokoena (South Africa) right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Goal! Nigeria 1(1), South Africa 1. Terem Moffi (Nigeria) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Penalty Shootout begins Nigeria 1, South Africa 1.
Second Half Extra Time ends, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1.
Substitution, Nigeria. Kenneth Omeruo replaces Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Foul by Sphephelo Sithole (South Africa).
Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Mihlali Mayambela (South Africa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria).
Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Mothobi Mvala.

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