2023 AFCON: Five takeaways from Super Eagles hard-fought shootout win against Bafana Bafana 

Nigeria secured their spot in the 2023  AFCON final after a tense encounter against South Africa ended in a 1-1 draw in regular time. The Super Eagles triumphed 4-2 over the Bafana Bafana in the penalty shootout.

William Troost-Ekong opened the scoring for Nigeria with a penalty in the 67th minute, only for Teboho Mokoena to equalize for South Africa in the 90th minute.

In the shootout, Nigeria emerged victorious with successful penalties from Kelechi Iheanacho, Terem Moffi, Kenneth Omeruo, and William Troost-Ekong. Ola Aina was the only player to miss a penalty for Nigeria.

Allnigeriasoccer.com presents five observations from the exciting semifinal clash between both teams. 

1. Super Eagles struggle with favourite tag 

The 2023 AFCON tournament has been marked by unexpected turns from the outset. Among the surprises, powerhouse nations like Algeria, Tunisia, and Ghana— traditionally considered strong contenders—were eliminated in the group stage.

Similarly, defending champions Senegal, Egypt, and Morocco, initially hailed as favorites, suffered premature exits in the Round of 16.

With the departure of these formidable teams, Nigeria emerged as a frontrunner for the title, given their pre-tournament performance and ranking.

While the Eagles managed to live up to the billing against Angola in the quarterfinals, they encountered difficulties against South Africa in the semifinals.

Nigeria struggled against the Bafana Bafana and failed to secure a victory in regular time or extra time.

2. Nigeria's Impenetrable defense cracks

Prior to their rmeeting with South Africa, Nigeria's defense had been rock-solid, having not conceded a single goal in four consecutive games. 

However, South Africa exploited Nigeria's defensive vulnerabilities, utilizing long balls from their defenders to swiftly advance their forward players.

The Eagles' defenders struggled to contend with this strategy and the rapid pace of South Africa's offensive line.

In the knockout stage, Bafana Bafana broke through Nigeria's defense, with Teboho Mokoena finding the net from the penalty spot, overcoming Stanley Nwabili's attempt to save. The Super Eagles also scored the first goal against South Africa in the knockout stage. 

3. Peseiro's tactical brilliance shines through

Despite facing criticism prior to the tournament, Jose Peseiro showcased his tactical prowess in Ivory Coast.

The Portuguese manager made two key substitutions after Nigeria's lackluster performance in the opening 60 minutes. He brought on Samuel Chukwueze and Alhassan Yusuf, replacing Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi.

These changes significantly improved Nigeria's fluidity, leading to a goal moments later through a penalty converted by William Troost-Ekong.

As the game headed into extra time, Peseiro's strategic moves continued to pay off. He introduced Kelechi Iheanacho, Kenneth Omeruo, and Terem Moffi, all of whom successfully converted their penalties in the shootout.

4. Nwabili shines in penalty drama as Williams struggles 

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili's reputation continues to soar at the AFCON tournament. Since displacing Uzoho as Nigeria's first-choice goalkeeper, the Chippa United player has consistently shown his reliability.

However, Nwabili's stock reached new heights with his heroics in the shootout against South Africa. He saved two crucial penalties, ensuring Nigeria secured a 4-2 victory on penalties.

Ronwen Williams struggled with penalties against Nigeria despite his heroics against Cape Verde. 

5. Unlucky Osimhen still decisive despite drought 

Despite his recent goal drought, Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen continues to play a crucial role for Nigeria. The Napoli striker hasn't found the net for Nigeria since his goal against Equatorial Guinea in the opening match.

Nevertheless, Osimhen has been unfortunate to have goals ruled out against Angola and South Africa in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively.

Despite these setbacks, Osimhen's impact for Nigeria remains evident. In the match against South Africa, he earned the penalty that was successfully converted by William Troost-Ekong, showcasing his importance beyond goal-scoring.

Adeyemi Adewale

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