What an electrifying moment I witnessed in the AFCON last night. It was incredible from start to finish and I am happy to have watched the incredible game between Nigeria and South Africa in the semi-final of the AFCON. Before the match, I wrote a post about the game and what I expected from the Super Eagles as they went head-to-head with the Bafana Bafana side last night. In the post, I also highlighted the impressive stats of the Super Eagles and how they needed to keep their heads down in the match last night.
Nigeria came to win the match with a proper game plan made by Nigeria's head coach Jose Peseiro and I want to make it clear that Jose Peseiro equally deserves the praise the Nigeria squad is receiving because he has been astonishing throughout the tournament and has not made a mistake in his setting up and even late substitution even when some fans attack his decision sometimes he has never let the pressure get to him and that is what a real coach does with his team.
Nigeria controlled the match in the first 20 minutes of the first half after the first cooling break the Bafana Bafana side changed their game plans and started playing long through ball to create a quick counter on the defence but they could not take their chances as the defence was unshakable and even when the beat the defenders Stanley Nwabali the Nigerian goalkeeper was there to take care of it.
Stanley Nwabali is a complete goalkeeper and the best I have seen so far in this AFCON competition. Nwabali's composure at the defence line is incredible as he does not feel the slightest pressure when attackers are approaching him and sometimes he just smiles when he makes a save or clears a goal-threatening chance. There is no doubt that Nwabali is the best goalkeeper in the AFCON this year and is the one going to win the Golden Glove of the tournament this coming Sunday.
Nigeria got the first goal of the match in the second half from the penalty spot. Ekong the team captain stepped up to take it but I was a bit worried because the South African goalkeeper stood on business when South Africa and Cape Verde played a penalty shootout. The keeper cut four penalties and the fifth one was played wide so it looked like the keeper was good at stopping penalties but Nigeria showed that the keeper was no better as Ekong sent the ball into the middle of the goalpost.
Victor Osimhen had already sealed the game for the Super Eagles in the 88th minute but the goal was checked by VAR and it was cancelled for a tackle that happened during the build-up play to the goal. South Africa was given a penalty and the Bafana Bafana side got themselves back in the game. South Africa almost got themselves the winning goal in the last minute of injury time but the opportunity was missed. The game ended in extra time but still no goals and it headed to a penalty shootout.
It was South Africa's plan during the extra time to waste the time and take the match to penalties but it backfired on them as the Super Eagles won the penalty shootout. Nigeria are in the finals and will face Ivory Coast this Sunday. It is going to be a tough game this Sunday but I have full confidence in the team and they will be crown champions of Africa this weekend. So guys that will be all for now. Thanks for stopping by and have a good day.