Iheanacho Sparks Jubilant Scenes with Winning Penalty in Nigeria’s Thrilling AFCON Semi-Final Victory against South Africa

Kelechi Iheanacho led Nigeria’s wild celebrations after the country qualified for its first Africa Cup of Nations final since 2013.

In a contentious encounter, Nigeria required penalties to defeat South Africa, with the Leicester forward hitting the winning penalty to advance his team to the final on Sunday.

William Troost-Ekong gave his team the lead from the penalty spot in the 67th minute of a close encounter, with South Africa hoping to carry their fairytale run all the way to the final game.

Victor Osimhen then thought he had sealed the victory in the 90th minute when he tapped in from close range, and wheeled away in celebration, only for the Napoli forward to be stopped in his tracks.

The referee brought back play and, with VAR intervention, awarded South Africa a spot kick of their own, which Teboho Mokoena slotted home to take the game into stoppage time.

Kelechi Iheanacho led the celebrations as Nigeria beat South Africa on penalties in AFCON

Despite South Africa’s Grant Kekana being sent off late on in the extra half hour, the underdogs held on and took the game to spot kicks.

Mokoena was however one of two players to miss his spot kick in the shoot-out, and South Africa goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams was unable to repeat his heroics from his side’s quarter-final win over Cape Verde.

The result was the final twist in what has been a semi-final that looked to be over in normal time when Osimhen scored what he thought was his second goal of the tournament.

When play stopped, with the forward and some of his team-mates still celebrating, VAR adjudged that Joe Aribo had fouled Mokoena in the penalty box at the other end of the pitch.

Iheanacho stepped up to take the winning kick after his side thought they had led 2-0 in normal time