Nigeria’s Super Eagles yesterday reached the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, beating Bafana Bafana of South Africa 4-2 in penalties in a match played at Stade de la Paix in Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire.
The Super Eagles scored through a penalty in the 67th minute after Victor Osimhen was brought down in the box by Mothobi Mvala (South Africa).
Nigeria thought they had sealed the game with a 2-0 lead when Osimhen scored as he latched on to a pass inside the penalty box and fired a perfect low strike, which went inside the left post.
However, a VAR review verdict said there was no goal for Nigeria due to a foul in the build-up play.
The South Africans were the superior side in the first half, boasting more ball possession, passes, and shots on target.
However, the Super Eagles came on strongly in the second half, pressuring the opponent and forcing a penalty which Captain Williams Troost-Ekong converted.
In the 90th minute, Bafana Bafana earned a penalty with which they levelled scores.
The match then went into extra time but no goal came to separate the two strong sides from football-crazy countries and with a history of intense rivalry.
In the end, the game had to be decided by penalties in which the Super Eagles won 4-2.
