AFCON 2023: Nigeria’s Super Eagles Defeat South Africa Via Penalties, Meet Ivory Coast For Final On Sunday * As Tinubu Praised Super Eagles 'You’ve Made Nigeria Proud'

 


Nigeria will play in the the host country, Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.


The Super Eagles needed penalties to see off South Africa in their semi-final clash on Wednesday.


The game ended 1-1 in regulation time and after 120 minutes. 


There were no goals in the opening half of the game, which was dominated by Bafana Bafana.


But in the second half, Nigeria took the lead after Victor Osimhen was fouled inside the area.


William Troost-Ekong stepped up to put the Eagles one goal up.


However, late in the game, Alhassan Yusuf gave away a penalty, which Teboho Mokoena tucked away.


The match was eventually decided on penalties, where Jose Peseiro’s men won 4-2.


In the semi-final encounter, host country, Ivory Coast defeated DR Congo by 1-0 to qualify for final on Sunday.


Sebastien Haller scored the winner as 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast beat DR Congo to set up a final meeting with Nigeria.


The only goal of a cagey contest in Abidjan came in the 65th minute when Haller's volley bounced down into the ground and up over Leopards goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.


The Borussia Dortmund striker should have opened the scoring just before the break with an unmarked header, while he also missed a chance to double the lead when sending a lob narrowly wide.


DR Congo did not look like getting a late equaliser, although Meschack Elia sent a volley wide of the left-hand upright and Simon Banza then fired well over in injury time.


Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has lauded the victory of the Super Eagles in their semi-finals at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, telling the national senior soccer team that, “You have made us all proud to be Nigerians!”


In a tweet on his verified X handle on Wednesday night, President Tinubu urged them to bring glory to the nation.


He wrote: “from the Southernmost cape of Africa to the Plains of Mauritania and the coast of West Africa….You have made us all Proud to be Nigerians!


“Go… Soar in the AFCON Finals

Well done, boys!”


The Super Eagles are searching for their 4th AFCON title. Their previous wins came in 1980, 1994 and 2013 editions of the Africa’s biggest soccer showpiece.


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