Nigeria vs South Africa 4-2 pens: AFCON 2023 semifinal – as it happened

Thanks for joining Al Jazeera for an incredible AFCON semifinal match, we hope you enjoyed it.

To see who Nigeria will face in Sunday’s final, you can follow our live coverage of the other semifinal between hosts Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of the Congo taking place now.

Nigeria had lost five of their previous six AFCON semifinals and had to overcome a very spirited South Africa to reach the final, with the game ultimately decided by penalties in normal time as well as in the shootout.

William Troost-Ekong gave Nigeria the lead from the penalty spot midway through the second half.

Victor Osimhen thought he’d sealed it with a second goal right at the end of 90 minutes, but VAR had spotted a foul before that by Alhassan Pigui on Percy Tau in the box and awarded a penalty to Bafana Bafana – which was converted by Teboho Mokoena.

Nigeria were rocked and South Africa almost won the game when Khuliso Mudau just missed a glorious chance five minutes into stoppage time.

Bafana Bafana lost defender Grant Kekana to a red card in extra time as Nigeria regained control to put them under the cosh, but they held out for penalties – only to crash out after two were saved by Stanley Nwabali.

Nigeria will play either hosts Ivory Coast or DRC in the final on Sunday.

That semifinal will kick off very shortly and you can follow live coverage here.

𝙏𝙊 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝙄𝙉𝘼𝙇! 🚨

🦅 The Super Eagles will fly to Abidjan for the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 final! 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/zVjwQTJwHJ

— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 7, 2024

Iheanacho smashes it into the bottom right, sending Nigeria into delirium and into the Africa Cup of Nations final!

Nigeria : OOXOO
South Africa: XOXO

Nigeria beat South Africa 4-2 on penalties!

Mvala has to score to keep South Africa in it – he does.

Nigeria : OOXO
South Africa: XOXO

The captain smashes it in.

Nigeria : OOXO
South Africa: XOX

Makgopa misses the chance the level as the keeper saves.

Nigeria : OOX
South Africa: XOX

Aina blazes over!

Nigeria : OOX
South Africa: XO

One pulled back for South Africa.

Nigeria : OO
South Africa: XO

Slotted in by Omeruo.

Nigeria : OO
South Africa: X

Mokoena’s penalty is saved by the keeper!

Nigeria : O
South Africa: X

Mossi takes the first for Nigeria – and scores! Straight down the middle, calm as you like.

Nigeria: O 
South Africa:

What an extraordinary match. Nigeria took the lead through an unconvincing Troost-Ekong penalty in the second half and thought they’d made it 2-0 with an Osimhen tap in with a couple of minutes to go.

But VAR crushed their dreams and instead awarded a penalty to South Africa for a foul in the build up, which was converted with aplomb.

Now it’s time for a penalties!

Nigeria will take the first.

Just time for a Nigerian substitute. Osyai-Samuel makes way for Omeru and the ref blows for full time in extra time.

Penalties it is!

120+2 mins: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Nigeria win a corner and swing it into the box, but it’s cleared and South Africa are off on a counter.

Troost-Ekong, however, is having none of it and hauls down a South African attacker – earning himself a place in the ref’s book.

Two minutes of stoppage time – then penalties if there’s no breakthrough.

120 mins: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

The Nigerian striker gets his free kick over the wall, but it goes harmlessly into the arms of Williams.

South Africa bring on Sibisi for Lepasa.

117 mins: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

There’s a long VAR delay, then the referee heads to the monitor … no penalty, but it’s a free kick to Nigeria on the edge of the box and a red card to Grant Kekena for fouling the last man!

115 mins: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Moffi ran through on goal and he was brought down, but it might have been just outside the box…

111 mins: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

South Africa will probably breathe a sigh of relief as Nigeria’s danger man makes way for Terem Moffi.

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro wouldn’t have wanted Osimhen to have played anymore as he comes back from injury.

109 mins: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa