Bafana Bafana missed out on a spot in the Africa Cup of Nations final after losing to Nigeria on penalties in the semi-finals.
2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Result: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa (Nigeria won 4-2 on penalties)
Date: 07 February 2024
Venue: Stade de Bouake
Bafana made only one change from their penalty shootout win over Cape Verde, as Siyanda Xulu was recalled in place of Thapelo Morena.
The Super Eagles, on the other hand, were unchanged from their win over Angola, as talisman Victor Osimhen overcame injury fears to lead the line alongside Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon.
Nigeria threatened with long balls into South Africa's box and on 14 minutes goalkeeper Ronwen Williams came to Bafana's rescue after he parried a deep cross and took it away from the lurking Osimhen.
However, Hugo Broos' charges were good on the ball, finding gaps in midfield and on the half-hour mark Percy Tau should have found the back of the net after a ricochet fell on his path in the box but he fired a low strike straight at shot-stopper Stanley Nwabili.
Bafana continued to open up Nigeria's defence and eight minutes before the half-time break, Evidence Makgopa came very close to breaking the deadlock with a curling shot that was brilliantly saved by Nwabali after he teed up by Tau.
The Super Eagles pressurized Bafana early in the second stanza and their persistence paid off shortly after the hour-mark, after Mothobi Mvala conceded a penalty by bringing down Osimhen in the box, which saw captain William Troost-Ekong convert for his second goal of the season.
Bafana were fired up to come back and Makgopa almost levelled matters with 16 minutes remaining after he unleashed a rocket that flashed narrowly wide of the far post.
Broos immediately made a double change, as both tactical, as Mihlali Mayambela and Zakhele Lepasa replaced Xulu and Themba Zwane.
South Africa committed numbers going forward and they were caught on a break in the dying minutes after Osimhen scored a tap-in at the back post.
However, there was drama as the referee reviewed an incident before the goal, as Tau was kicked in the box and cancelled the goal while awarding Bafana a spot-kick, which Teboho Mokoena converted.
Bafana had a big chance to snatch the winner deep in stoppage time after Nwabili parried Mokoena's free-kick on the path of Khuliso Mudau, who could not control the rebound and fired his shot over the crossbar.
Jose Peseiro's men had better chances in extra-time as Williams denied Osimhen twice in either half, but the game was on the edge in the dying minutes and South Africa were reduced to ten men four minutes before time after Grant Kekana was red-carded for a professional foul after a VAR review.
Kelechi Iheanacho's free-kick for the Super Eagles on the edge of the box was saved by Williams and the match went to penalty shootouts after a 1-1 draw in extra-time.
The Super Eagles won 4-2 on penalties after Iheanacho scored the winning spot-kick following misses by Mokoena and a saved Makgopa penalty by Nwabali.
Here's how they lined up:
Nigeria: Nwabali, Ekong, Ajayi, Bassey, Osayi-Samuel, Onyeka, Iwobi, Ola Aina, Lookman, Osimhen, Simon.
South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Xulu, Mvala, Modiba, Sithole, Mokoena, Tau, Zwane, Makgopa.
Subs: Mothwa, Goss, Mobbie, Mashego, Appollis, Adams, Monare, Lepasa, Sibisi, Mayambela, Morena
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