Nigeria vs South Africa LIVE: Afcon semi-final result and reaction as Super Eagles win penalty shootout

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa (4-2 pens): Super Eagles advance to final after dramatic penalty shootout victory

Nigeria fans celebrate reaching AFCON final

Nigeria booked their place in their first Africa Cup of Nations final since 2013 after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over South Africa.

After a slow first half, the Super Eagles took the lead from the spot when William Troost-Ekong fired home from the spot after Victor Osimhen was brought down.

The favourites thought they had doubled the lead in the dying moments of regular time when Osimhen slammed home but a VAR check not only ruled out the goal but awarded South Africa a penalty after Alhassan Yusuf fouled Percy Tau inside the box.

Teboho Mokoena levelled from the spot before Khuliso Mudau spurned a golden opportunity to win the game for Bafana Bafana in the dying moments.

Grant Kekana saw red for South Africa in an otherwise quiet extra-time before Nigeria emerged victorious from the penalty shootout.

Relive all the action below.

Nigeria vs South Africa

• Nigeria book place in Sunday’s final after dramatic penalty shootout win
• ‘115 RED CARD! Kekana sees red after VAR check (NGA 1-1 RSA)
• ‘90+6 CHANCE! Mudau spurns golden late opportunity (NGA 1-1 RSA)
• ‘90 GOAL! Mokoena equalises after VAR drama (NGA 1-1 RSA)
• ‘67 GOAL! Troost-Ekong converts from spot (NGA 1-0 RSA)

[7 February 2024 18:12 · Ben Fleming]

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

51 mins: Lookman gets in behind the South African defence but his cross is blocked out for a corner. The Atalanta forward whips in the corner to the back post but the danger is cleared away.

[7 February 2024 18:09 · Ben Fleming]

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

48 mins: Lookman and Iwobi attempt a give-and-go to get behind the South African defence but the ball is intercepted well.

[7 February 2024 18:05 · Ben Fleming]

KICK-OFF! Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

46 mins: And we’re back underway in the second half.

[7 February 2024 18:00 · Ben Fleming]

HALF-TIME: Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Osimhen has had just 9 touches in the first half, the fewest of any player. Nigeria will need to get their talisman on the ball far more often after the break if they are to make a breakthrough.

[7 February 2024 17:53 · Ben Fleming]

HALF-TIME: Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

South Africa’s superb first-half defensive record continues. Bafana Bafana have still not conceded a first-half goal this tournament, while Nigeria have only conceded one in the opening 45 minutes.

[7 February 2024 17:51 · Ben Fleming]

HALF-TIME: Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

And there goes the half-time whistle. Not much in the way of goalmouth action in the first period, with Makgopa’s effort - denied superbly by Nwabali - the best chance of the half.

[7 February 2024 17:47 · Ben Fleming]

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

45 mins: Just two minutes of added time to end this first half.

[7 February 2024 17:46 · Ben Fleming]

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

43 mins: Osimhen drifts into the right channel but his low cross into the box is blocked well.

[7 February 2024 17:42 · Ben Fleming]

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

39 mins: SAVE! A great chance for South Africa to break the deadlock but Makgopa’s effort is saved superbly by Nwabali.

Tau does great to bring down the high ball, laying it back to his strike partner but the Super Eagles keeper dives superbly to his left to palm the effort behind for a corner.

[7 February 2024 17:39 · Ben Fleming]

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

37 mins: Slowly but surely, this game is starting to open up. Iwboi lines one up from range but Williams makes the comfortable save.