The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face host Nation The elephants of Ivory Coast in what will surely be a clash for the ages.
By Olisa Obi
The Super Eagles of Nigeria were able to secure their final spot after beating rivals, Bafana Bafana, (4-2) on penalties to secure their spot in the AFCON finals.
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The scoring was opened after the Super Eagles secured a penalty when the African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, was brought down in the box by Mothobi Mvala at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, Ivory Coast.
Nigeria then led 1-0 in the 67th minute after Captain William Troost-Ekong converted the penalty low-driven into the middle of the net fooling Ronwen Williams in goal.
There was no more drama to come as Nigeria thought they had sealed the game with a 2-0 lead as Osimhen scored, latching on to a pass inside the penalty box and fired a perfect low strike, which went inside the left post.
However, a VAR review verdict said that there was no goal for Nigeria due to a foul in the build-up play. The decision was overturned, and a penalty was given to South Africa.
Bafana Bafana were able to get something back and send the game into extra time when Teboho Mokoena of South Africa played the penalty past Stanley Nwabili into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1 from the spot.
Since then, the game had remained a hotly contested match after Terem Moffi was brought down at the edge of the box and South Africa was shown a red card following the tackle.
Nigeria sealed the game 4-2 in penalties after Nwabali saved two.
Super Eagles’ performance in the AFCON has now brought them to the final. Time to watch out as they strive to secure their fourth AFCON trophy since 2013.
IVORY COAST
But for Nigeria to see her dreams come through, she must face and overcome an enemy which she was able to beat at the group stages and that is the Elephants of Ivory Coast.
Ivory coast who at a point in this tournament were heading home and were only able to qualify, thanks to being the fourth best loser, have now completed their redemption arc and are on their way to the AFCON finals were they will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Having sacked their head coach during the group stages, the host nation is only one step away from winning the tournament after securing a 1-0 win over DR Congo last night.
The goal came through Dortmund striker, Sebastien Haller, as he grabbed the winning goal in the second half of the game.
Nigeria and Ivory Coast will go head to head at the summit of African Football – the Afcon final – to decide once and for all who will be crowned King of Africa.
The Nigeria vs Ivory coast match is slated to happen on Sunday 11 of February.
