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

Nigeria reached an eighth Africa Cup of Nations final after winning a drama-fuelled last-four clash with South Africa on penalties.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the hero for Nigeria after he saved efforts by Teboho Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa in a 4-2 shoot-out win, which only told half the story of an extraordinary clash where VAR was at the forefront of the action.

Nigeria thought they had booked their place in the final when Victor Osimhen tapped home in the 85th minute to add to William Troost-Ekong’s second-half penalty, but referee Amin Omar was told to intervene.

A review of the goal showed South Africa’s Percy Tau had been fouled inside the penalty area at the start of the move and the score went from 2-0 to Nigeria to 1-1 when Mokoena made no mistake from 12 yards.

South Africa defender Grant Kekana also received his marching orders towards the end of extra-time before Nwabali made the difference to fire the 2013 winners into another final.

What a moment for Iheanacho, sending his nation to the final with a sweetly-hit penalty:

Here are some photos from the penalty shoot-out and the aftermath:

Nigeria have punched their ticket to Sunday’s final where they will either take on hosts Ivory Coast or underdogs DR Congo.

You can follow live updates from that match below:

Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved two penalties in the shootout to guide his side to a 4-2 victory over South Africa following a 1-1 draw on Wednesday and earn a place in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Nigeria had lost five of their previous six semi-finals at the continental finals but survived some nervous moments to book a place in Sunday’s decider against either hosts Ivory Coast or the Democratic Republic of Congo, who meet later on Wednesday.

William Troost-Ekong put Nigeria into the lead from the penalty spot midway through the second half, before South Africa earned a spot-kick of their own in the final minute of the 90 and it was converted by Teboho Mokoena.

South Africa lost defender Grant Kekana to a red card in extra time as Nigeria put them under constant pressure, and then lost their nerve too in the shootout as Nwabali saved from Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa.

Report courtesy of Reuters

What a dramatic end to that contest. It looked for all the money that Nigeria were cruising to the final but VAR drama saw South Africa score a last-minute equaliser.

But South Africa couldn’t recreate their quarter-final penalty success and ultimately come up short in their first semi-final since 2000.

GOAL! Iheanacho with the crucial penalty…and he scores!

Nigeria advance to the final – what a moment for the Super Eagles!

GOAL! South Africa have to score to stay in the contest. Mvala steps up…and he makes no mistake.

GOAL! An emphatic finish from Troost-Ekong to put Nigeria on the brink of a place in the final.

SAVED! Or have they…Makgopa steps up but his effort is saved by Nwabali with a great stop down low to his right!