The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations served up some trademark drama on Wednesday as Nigeria superior previous South Africa on penalties however solely after being made to sweat their place in Sunday’s closing. It completed 4-2 after penalties and 1-1 after additional time however the closing 10 minutes of the sport will reside lengthy within the reminiscence regardless of this Ivory Coast version of the event already being extraordinarily memorable on a variety of events.

The Tremendous Eagles opened the scoring 23 minutes from full time in Bouake after William Troost-Ekong scored from the penalty spot to beat Bafana Bafana’s quarterfinal penalty hero Ronwen Williams at Stade de la Paix.

Victor Osimhen thought that he had sealed it for Nigeria with simply minutes remaining of the regulatory 90 however then VAR stepped in to not solely chalk off the SSC Napoli man’s objective however award South Africa a penalty on the different finish.

Teboho Mokoena stepped as much as convert from the spot with simply added time remaining to spark scenes of jubilation amongst South African ranks and fury from their Nigerian opponents who thought that that they had already executed sufficient to achieve the ultimate.

Hugo Broos’ males went shut once more earlier than the time added on had performed out and virtually capped probably the most dramatic of AFCON comebacks but it surely completed 1-1 to advance to additional time which noticed Osimhen withdrawn after pregame damage issues and Gran Kekana despatched off with 5 minutes left.

The 2 couldn’t be separated after 120 minutes so it went to penalties however Williams was unable to repeat his Cape Verde heroics with Jose Peseiro’s Tremendous Eagles scoring all bar certainly one of their penalties which Ola Aina blazed over.

Mokoena, who was profitable from the spot within the common 90 minutes, was denied by Stanley Nwabali, who additionally saved from Proof Makgopa, which left Kelechi Iheanacho to attain the winner to ship Nigeria into the ultimate.

It was harsh on South Africa, who had been heroic in eliminating pre-tournament favorites Morocco and edging plucky underdogs Cape Verde in addition to pushing Tunisia out within the group stage, but it surely was to not be, and Broos’ bd for a second AFCON title fell brief.

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