By Michael Madyira
Nigeria stormed into the final of the Africa Cup of Nations following a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Bafana Bafana at the Stade de Bouake de la Paix.
On a semi-final evening, the two sides could not separate each other after extra-time, drawing 1-1.
William Troost-Ekong had thrust the Super Eagles in front after converting a penalty in the 67th minute before Teboho Mokoena also struck in his spot kick right on 90 minutes as Nigeria seemed to have settled matters in regulation time.
That forced another 30 minutes of action in which Bafana lost Grant Kekana to a red card in the 115th minute.
The contest went to the lottery kicks where Mokoena, this time, got it wrong and Evidence Makgopa also had his penalty saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
It was the second successive Afcon match for Bafana to go to penalties — this time they crumbled.
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro made just one change from the squad that beat Angola in the quarter-finals with defender Zaidu Sanusi making way for Fenerbahce’s Bright Osayi-Samuel.
There were positional changes by Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who moved Kekana to the right-back role while Khuliso Mudau was pushed up the right flank.
Thapelo Morena was benched for Siyanda Xulu as the Belgian tweaked his starting line-up for the first time in four games.
Nigeria started on the offensive and after 14 minutes, Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams tipped a cross from Ola Aina to prevent Troost-Ekong and Victor Osimhen from heading in.
A golden opportunity arrived for Percy Tau to finish a move but the Al Ahly star’s execution lacked power and was easy to collect for Nwabali.
On 35 minutes, Tau was back and this time came face to face with the Super Eagles keeper but failed to control the ball as he charged towards the goal.
That was followed by a top-drawer save by Nwabali to thwart an Evidence Makgopa curler.
The complexion of the game then changed when Troost-Ekong stepped up to send Williams the wrong way.
Bafana were almost punished for some poor marking with Osimhen connecting the ball into the net but the goal was cancelled for an earlier offence committed by Alhassan Yusuf on Zakhele Lepasa just inside the box.
After VAR check, South Africa were awarded a penalty and Mokoena braved up the intensity of the occasion to beat Nwabali.
Then right at the death, Mudau skied a glorious opportunity after Nwabali has punched into his path a Mokoena freekick.
The contest spilled into extra time and Kekana’s tackle on Terrence Moffi earned him a red card at a critical phase of the game.
But Bafana held on until the shootouts where they collapsed.
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams makes a save to deny William Troost-Ekong and Victor Osimhen from heading in a cross.
Image source: CAF
