Nwabali hero as Nigeria beats South Africa, reaches final

Stanley Nwabali makes a save during the penalty shootout against South Africa. Photo: AFP

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the hero yesterday, as the Super Eagles survived a determined South Africa, to qualify for the final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

With the game poised at 1-1 after 120 minutes of normal and added time, the South Africa-based goalkeeper rose to the occasion, saving two penalty kicks as the Super Eagles beat the Bafana Bafana, whose goalkeeper, Ronwem Williams, is renowned for his penalty saving heroics.

Yesterday in Bouake, Williams found the Nigerian players too clinical in their kicks as he failed to get close to saving any of the Eagles’ five kicks.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho converted the winning penalty as Nigeria held their nerve for a 4-2 shootout win.

Nigeria opened scores in normal time through skipper William Troost-Ekong’s spot-kick and looked to be coasting home, particularly when Victor Osimhen turned the ball home with five minutes remaining.

VAR, however, upturned the goal and instead awarded a penalty to South Africa for a foul in the build-up. Teboho Mokoena converted to force extra time, and penalties followed.

Mokoena could not repeat the trick in the shootout and while Ola Aina blasted his penalty over the bar, Evidence Makgopa’s miss handed the advantage back to the Super Eagles. Iheanacho had the chance to win it and did just that to take the Super Eagles to their first final since 2013.

Stanley Nwabali shows off his man of the match award after Nigeria eliminated South Africa from the AFCON. Photo: AFP

South Africa dominated the opening half, but it was largely a nervy semifinal, between two sides, who went into the match having kept four consecutive clean