The Super Eagles of Nigeria will play hosts Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).Nigeria’s substitute Kelechi Iheanacho scored to give Nigeria a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over South Africa on Wednesday after an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final thriller in Bouake.
Meanwhile, Sebastien Haller scored the winner as 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Cote d’Ivoire beat DR Congo to set up a final meeting with Nigeria.
“Our team has a huge state of mind. The team fights together, There are 25 of us (in the squad and) it’s difficult to beat us,” said Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro.
“Deep down, thinking about that second cancelled (Nigerian) goal and the (South African equaliser), a lot of teams would have given up.
“I am very happy, the players are happy, they deserve it, we deserve it, the Super Eagles deserve it, the Nigerian people deserve it.”
South Africa coach Hugo Broos said: “Football can be cruel. You play a bad match against Cape Verde, you win on penalties. You play a very good match against Nigeria and lose on penalties.”
Iheanacho from English second-tier club Leicester City had been an unused substitute in the five group and knockout matches that took the Super Eagles to the semi-finals.
He was thrust into action by Portuguese Peseiro for the first time after 102 minutes against South Africa and calmly converted the decisive spot-kick.
Nwabali, who plays for South African top-flight club Chippa United, saved shootout kicks from Teboho Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa.
Peseiro, a long-time backer of under-fire incumbent shot-stopper Francis Uzoho, dropped him for the opening group match against Equatorial Guinea and Nwabali has been an ever present.
Nwabali conceded once in a draw with the Equatoguineans, then kept four clean sheets before being beaten by a Mokoena penalty in the 90th minute of regular time.
Nigeria had taken the lead 23 minutes earlier, also from a penalty, which captain William Troost-Ekong converted.
Khuliso Mudau had a great chance to win the match for South Africa just before extra time, but blazed over from close range.
South Africa captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who saved four kicks in a quarter-final shootout win over Cape Verde, could not stop a single kick.
Before Iheanacho netted, fellow substitutes Terem Moffi and Kenneth Omeruo and Troost-Ekong converted penalties and Ola Aina blazed over.
In an absorbing match watched by a 32,000 crowd, Nigeria thought they had taken a two-goal lead on 85 minutes when star forward Victor Osimhen scored.
But play was called back to the other end and, after the Egyptian referee checked the pitch-side VAR monitor, he awarded South Africa the penalty that Mokoena netted.
Reigning African Player of the Year Osimhen, who started the match after recovering from abdominal discomfort, was substituted in extra time after another tireless performance.
South Africa played the final seven minutes with 10 men after Grant Kekana was shown a straight red card for a last-defender foul on Moffi.
