Nigeria vs South Africa LIVE: Afcon semi-final result and reaction as Super Eagles win penalty shootout

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa (4-2 pens): Super Eagles advance to final after dramatic penalty shootout victory

Nigeria fans celebrate reaching AFCON final

Nigeria booked their place in their first Africa Cup of Nations final since 2013 after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over South Africa.

After a slow first half, the Super Eagles took the lead from the spot when William Troost-Ekong fired home from the spot after Victor Osimhen was brought down.

The favourites thought they had doubled the lead in the dying moments of regular time when Osimhen slammed home but a VAR check not only ruled out the goal but awarded South Africa a penalty after Alhassan Yusuf fouled Percy Tau inside the box.

Teboho Mokoena levelled from the spot before Khuliso Mudau spurned a golden opportunity to win the game for Bafana Bafana in the dying moments.

Grant Kekana saw red for South Africa in an otherwise quiet extra-time before Nigeria emerged victorious from the penalty shootout.

Relive all the action below.

Nigeria vs South Africa

• Nigeria book place in Sunday’s final after dramatic penalty shootout win
• ‘115 RED CARD! Kekana sees red after VAR check (NGA 1-1 RSA)
• ‘90+6 CHANCE! Mudau spurns golden late opportunity (NGA 1-1 RSA)
• ‘90 GOAL! Mokoena equalises after VAR drama (NGA 1-1 RSA)
• ‘67 GOAL! Troost-Ekong converts from spot (NGA 1-0 RSA)

[7 February 2024 17:02 · Ben Fleming]

KICK-OFF! Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

1 min: Nigeria get us underway in this crunch semi-final.

[7 February 2024 16:55 · Ben Fleming]

Closing in on kick-off

Just five minutes to go - which team will be the first to punch their ticket to Sunday’s final?

[7 February 2024 16:49 · Ben Fleming]

History favours the favourites

South Africa have upset the odds to reach this stage in the competition and will have to do so again if they are to progress to the final.

History, however, does not favour Bafana Bafana. In fact, this will be the fourth encounter between Nigeria and South Africa at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with the Super Eagles winning the previous three by an aggregate score of 8-1.

Ominous signs...

[7 February 2024 16:42 · Ben Fleming]

Routes to the semi-finals

Nigeria

Group stage

Nigeria 1-1 Equatorial Guinea

Ivory Coast 0-1 Nigeria

Guinea Bissau 0-1 Nigeria

Knockouts

Ro16: bt. Cameron 2-0

QF: bt. Angola 1-0

South Africa

Group stage

Mali 2-0 South Africa

South Africa 4-0 Namibia

South Africa 0-0 Tunisia

Knockouts

Ro16: bt. Morocco 2-0

QF: bt. Cape Verde on penalties

[7 February 2024 16:35 · Ben Fleming]

‘Resurrected’ Ivory Coast were gifted Africa Cup of Nations reprieve – now they could go on to win it

Later tonight, The Elephants face DR Congo in the other Afcon semi-final.

Having sacked a manager they could now beat the entire continent. It would make a redemption story improbable enough to make the Mighty Ducks, the Karate Kid or even Rocky blush but it’s what Ivory Coast are facing the prospect of at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The hosts of this year’s tournament were within a whisker of being knocked out embarrassingly early on home soil but a brave decision looks to have become an inspired one, with the Elephants now just 90 minutes away from their first Afcon final in almost a decade.

This, after being only injury time away from an ignominious exit. From the group stage, the top two go through – and so do four of the six third-placed teams. In other words, only the worst eight nations from the starting 24 fail to make the knockouts at the Afcon, and Ivory Coast put themselves firmly on course to be in that collection after a win and two defeats.

Read Karl Matchett’s preview:

[7 February 2024 16:25 · Ben Fleming]

Last time out for South Africa

Ronwen Williams made four saves as South Africa beat Cape Verde 2-1 on penalties to reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals on Saturday.

The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper also made a stunning stop at the end of normal time as the last-eight clash in Yamoussoukro ended goalless.

It was his fourth successive clean sheet in the tournament. Cape Verde created the most chances throughout the game but were unable to make the most of their opportunities and South Africa, the 1996 champions, will now play Nigeria for a place in the final.

And her’s a recap of South Africa’s quarter-final clash:

[7 February 2024 16:17 · Ben Fleming]

South Africa team news

South Africa, meanwhile, also make just one change from their penalty shootout win against Cape Verde. Khuliso Mudau is deployed further forward on the right wing, with Thapelo Morena dropping to the bench.

Grant Kekana shifts across to right-back as Siyanda Xulu comes in at centre-back alongside Mothobi Mvala.

South Africa XI: Williams, Kekana, Xulu, Mvala, Modiba, Mokoena, Sithole, Zwane, Mudau, Makgopa, Tau

Subs: Mobbie, Mashego, Appollis, Adams, Monare, Mothwa, Lepasa, Sibisi, Mayambela, Goss, Morena

[7 February 2024 16:09 · Ben Fleming]

Nigeria team news

The big news for the Super Eagles is that star striker Victor Osimhen is passed fit to start after his injury in the quarter-final. Elsewhere, there is just one change as Osayi-Samuel replaces Zaidu at left wing-back.

Nigeria XI: Nwabali, Aina, Ekong, Ajayi, Bassey, Osayi-Samuel, Onyeka, Iwobi, Lookman, Simon, Osimhen

Subs: Uzoho, Alhassan, Musa, Aribo, Chukwueze, Iheanacho, Onuachu, Awaziem, Omeruo, Moffi, Onyedika

[7 February 2024 16:02 · Ben Fleming]

Lineups are out!

[7 February 2024 15:55 · Ben Fleming]

Team news coming shortly

Just five minutes to go until the team news hits - will star striker Victor Osimhen be fit to play?

We’ll find out shortly...