In a gripping semi-final showdown at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Nigeria clashed with South Africa in a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. Both teams were determined to secure their spot in the championship final and vie for the prestigious title of African champions.

The encounter ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time, with each team finding the back of the net from penalty kicks. Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, only to be matched by Teboho Mokoena’s equalizer from a 90th-minute penalty for South Africa.

However, the drama didn’t end there. In a contentious moment, VAR intervened to alert the Egyptian referee to a foul on South Africa’s Percy Tau in the Nigerian penalty area. The decision was upheld, resulting in a penalty kick for South Africa, which Mokoena took, but Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali thwarted the attempt, keeping the Super Eagles’ hopes alive.

As the match progressed into extra time, tension soared when South Africa’s Grant Kekana received a red card on 115 minutes, reducing his team to 10 men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, South Africa pushed forward, but their efforts were in vain.

The pivotal moment came during the penalty shootout, where Nwabali, who plies his trade for Chippa United in South Africa during club seasons, emerged as the hero for Nigeria. The goalkeeper made two crucial saves, denying South Africa’s attempts and propelling Nigeria to a 4-2 victory in the shootout.

The winning penalty was expertly converted by Kelechi Iheanacho, sealing Nigeria’s place in the AFCON final and igniting celebrations among the Super Eagles’ faithful.

With this hard-fought victory, Nigeria advances to the final stage of the tournament, where they will face off against another formidable opponent in their quest to claim African football’s ultimate prize. As the excitement builds, football fans eagerly anticipate what promises to be an exhilarating finale to the AFCON championship.