On Wednesday, Nigeria faced South Africa in the semi-finals of the African Championships. Prior to the semi-finals, Nigeria had only conceded one goal on the way to the final, and again on this night the national team defended well.
Nigeria took the lead in the 67th minute through William Troost-Ekong from the penalty spot, which looked to be enough to win in normal time, but in the 90th minute Teboho Mokoena equalized from the penalty spot, sending the match into extra time.
With five minutes remaining in extra time, South Africa’s Grant Kekana was sent off, giving Nigeria a chance to push for a winning goal, but it came to nothing, and in the end the thriller went to penalties.
During the penalty shootout, Nigeria was the strongest, as goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved South Africa’s goalscorer Teboho Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa’s penalties.
Nigeria will now face the winner between host nation Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final of the African Championships. For South Africa, the bronze medal match awaits.
