Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-07 21:59:38
Nigeria’s three-time Africa Cup of Nations champions secured their spot in the final after a nail-biting penalty shootout against South Africa, in which goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as the hero with two crucial saves. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, and Nigeria went on to win 4-2 in the penalty shootout, marking a significant achievement for a team that had lost five of their previous six semi-finals at the continental finals.
The win was a hard-fought one for Nigeria, with South Africa proving to be a formidable opponent. Nigeria will now face either hosts Ivory Coast or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final on Sunday, and the team’s victory in the semi-finals has reinvigorated their hopes of securing a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title.
The momentous victory against South Africa was attributed in part to Nwabali’s exceptional performance during the penalty shootout, where he saved crucial shots from Teboho Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa. Nigeria’s head coach, Jose Peseiro, commended his team’s effort, stating, “It was a very good victory against a very good team. We deserved to win, but they (South Africa) deserved to win too…The team fought well.”
One of the key moments in the match was the penalty converted by William Troost-Ekong, which put Nigeria in the lead midway through the second half. However, South Africa fought back, equalizing with a last-minute penalty from Mokoena. The intensity of the game was further amplified when South Africa lost defender Grant Kekana to a red card in extra time, putting Nigeria under constant pressure. While South Africa missed crucial chances, they were ultimately defeated in the penalty shootout.
Nigeria’s striker, Victor Osimhen, was instrumental in winning the penalty that led to Troost-Ekong’s goal. Despite initially thinking they had secured a second goal, Nigeria’s effort was disallowed, and South Africa was awarded a penalty after a Video Assistant Referee review. The game ultimately went to extra time and penalties, where Nigeria emerged victorious.
While Nigeria celebrated their triumph, South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, expressed disappointment, acknowledging the performance of his team but conceding their defeat. He stated, “Football can be hard…it is a big disappointment, but I am very proud of my players. I think everyone now knows South Africa as a good team, and that is important.”
Nwabali’s sensational performance in the semi-final has undoubtedly elevated his status, especially considering his surprise inclusion in the squad, having only won a single cap before the tournament. His crucial saves ensured Nigeria’s path to the final and highlighted the unpredictable nature of football. With the final awaiting them, Nigeria will look to continue their winning momentum and achieve further success in the Africa Cup of Nations.
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