Nigeria beat Bafana on penalties to reach Afcon final

Bouake — Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved two penalties in the shoot-out to guide his side to a 4-2 victory over Bafana Bafana following a 1-1 draw on Wednesday and earn a place in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Nigeria had lost five of their previous six semifinals at the continental finals but survived some nervous moments to book a place in Sunday’s decider against either hosts Ivory Coast or the Democratic Republic of Congo, who meet later on Wednesday.

William Troost-Ekong put Nigeria into the lead from the penalty spot midway through the second half, before SA earned a spot-kick of their own in the final minute of the 90 and it was converted by Teboho Mokoena.

SA lost defender Grant Kekana to a red card in extra time as Nigeria put them under constant pressure, and then lost their nerve too in the shoot-out as Nwabali saved from Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa.

Reuters