There was a wild celebration at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake which reverberated across Nigeria on Wednesday night after the Super Eagles sealed their place in the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, final.
Nigeria defeated Bafana Bafana of South Africa on penalties in the semi-final game after both teams played their hearts out over 120 minutes.
The game was ultimately decided by penalties in normal time as well as in the shootout.
William Troost-Ekong gave Nigeria the lead from the penalty spot in the 67th minute.
Nigeria looked to have won it when Victor Osimhen scored late on, only for VAR to instead award South Africa a lifeline penalty after spotting an earlier foul.
Teboho Mokoena scored the 90th-minute spot kick to send the game into extra time but Nigeria recovered to claim victory on penalties.
Ola Aina missed Nigeria’s third penalty, and Aaron Mokoena, Evidence Makgopa and Mothobi Mvala missed South Africa’s first, third and fourth to book the Super Eagles’ passage to Sunday’s final.
Nigeria now stands one win away from a fourth African crown. Nigeria will face Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday.
