With great circumstances, great suspense An uncertain time for the semi-final, Victor Osimhen finally held his place against South Africa at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké (in the center of Côte d'Ivoire) this Wednesday.
With a penalty caused, plus a valid goal refused and a permanent threat, the best African player of last year was the great architect of Nigeria's qualification for the final of the African Cup of Nations.
But, replaced, it was from the bench that he watched his team qualify on penalties (4-2).
Two saves from goalkeeper Nwabali on Mokoena and Mgakopa, against a miss from Aina, and the Nigerians were able to let their happiness burst at the end of the penalty shootout.
Three times winners of the competition (1980, 1994, 2013), the Super Eagles won their visa for an eighth CAN final at the Alassane-Ouattara stadium in Abidjan on Sunday (9 p.m.).
However, the Greens, who remained on four consecutive clean sheets, were caught by South Africans considered more modest, and they were pushed to their first extension of the competition.
But the Nigerians made their new compact formation identity triumph, contrasting with their label as an exclusively offensive team.
We had been playing for a good hour in Bouaké, and the Super Eagles, after suffering in the first period, were only starting to show their claws in the wake of their superstar.
Found near the South African area, the former Lille player, surrounded by four opposing defenders, turned around and set off towards the goal.
In a hurry, Mvala had no choice but to mow down Osimhen, causing a penalty converted by captain Troost-Ekong (1-0, 67th).
The 2-0 goal turns into a 1-1 penalty
The man with the favorite mask has remained faithful to the face shown since the start of the competition: only one goal scored, but constant work in the service of the Nigerian collective, including defensively.
The Osimhen imprint seemed complete, when the Neapolitan doubled the lead, from close range in the empty goal, following a counter-attack (85th).
But in a twist, the VAR summoned Mr. Amine, the Egyptian referee, to view a preliminary penalty situation, for a foul by Yussuf on Tau, in the Nigerian area... So much so that in two minutes, the game , rather poor in real chances so far, got carried away, the score suddenly changing from 2-0 in favor of the Nigerians to 1-1 after the penalty converted by Mokoena (90th).
🏆🌍 #CAN2023
😱 WHAT A CRAZY SCENARIO!!!
😳 Victor Osimhen doubles the lead for Nigeria... but the referee whistles a penalty for South Africa!!!
💥 Bafana Bafana equalize in the last minutes and completely restart this 1/2 final!!!
#beINCAN2023 #NIGAFS pic.twitter.com/YWbQtUSLWp
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) February 7, 2024
Transcended by the equalizer, Bafana even obtained three match points in added time, the last, the clearest by Mudau, who a few meters in front of the goal, placed his recovery above (90th + 6)!
The match was taking a completely crazy turn.
During extra time, Osimhen twice gave the thrill of Ronwen's goal (101st, 103rd) and brought the stadium up with a header narrowly above the opponent's goal (106th).
After which, he gave way to Terem Moffi, who had not played until now.
On his first ball, the Niçois, launched in depth, was stopped at the last minute on the edge of the area by Kekana and thought he had obtained a new penalty but benefited from a simple free kick (115th).
It was postponed.
Abidjan awaits Osimhen and his team on Sunday.