Nigeria vs South Africa LIVE! AFCON result, match stream, latest reaction and updates today after penalties

Nigeria vs South Africa - LIVE!

Kelechi Iheanacho converted the winning penalty as Nigeria held their nerve for a 4-2 shootout win over South Africa to reach the AFCON final. William Troost-Ekong’s spot-kick in normal time had looked like sending the Super Eagles through without further stress, particularly when Victor Osimhen turned the ball home with five minutes remaining.

That goal though was chalked off, and South Africa awarded a penalty of their own for a foul in the build-up. Teboho Mokoena converted to force extra time, and penalties followed.

Mokoena could not repeat the trick in the shootout and while Ola Aina blasted his penalty over the bar, Evidence Makgopa’s miss handed the advantage back to the Super Eagles. Iheanacho had the chance to win it, and did just that to set up a final against either Ivory Coast or DR Congo.

Nigeria vs South Africa latest news

• Nigeria win penalty shootout 4-2

• RED CARD! Kekana sent off in extra time

• GOAL! Mokoena equalises with penalty

• NO GOAL! Osimhen finish ruled out

• GOAL! Troost-Ekong penalty opens scoring

08:13 , Alex Young

The AFCON final is set as Ivory Coast beat DR Congo to set a date with Nigeria on Sunday.

Here’s everything you need to know about the showpiece, which is a repeat of the match-up from Group A, when William Troost-Ekong’s penalty settled the game for Nigeria.

Big weekend ahead

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:31 , Matt Verri

So, South Africa will face either Ivory Coast or DR Congo in the third-place play-off on Saturday. That match will kick off at 8pm.

And then a day later, it will be Nigeria taking on the winner of the second semi-final in the main event, with kick-off also at 8pm.

Clear those diaries...

Nigeria player ratings

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:22 , Matt Verri

Stanley Nwabali 8

Nigeria’s hero. On hand to make one impressive finger-tip save from Evidence Makgopa’s curling effort in the first half. Punched crosses clear, and was assured throughout. Saved from Mokoena and Makgopa in the shootout.

Read our ratings in full here!

Story of the shootout

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:05 , Matt Verri

Nigeria were never behind in the penalty shootout - they were never even level after the first spot-kick.

South Africa had the chance to level it up, when Aina blasted over, but Makgopa then followed it up with a miss of his own.

The winning spot-kick!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:56 , Matt Verri

Kelechi Iheanacho the hero for Nigeria!

Nigeria one win away!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:54 , Matt Verri

The Super Eagles take a giant step towards AFCON glory.

One. More. Win.

They will face either Ivory Coast or DR Congo in Sunday’s final.

South Africa, meanwhile, will take part in the third-place play-off.

NIGERIA ARE THROUGH TO THE AFCON FINAL!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:50 , Matt Verri

Iheanacho... WINS IT!

Nigeria win the shootout 4-2 and they are through to the AFCON final.

GOAL! Nigeria 3-2 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:49 , Matt Verri

Mvala keeps South Africa in it!

Nigeria will win the shootout if they score their next penalty though....

GOAL! Nigeria 3-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:48 , Matt Verri

Troost-Ekong, Nigeria’s first-choice penalty taker.

And he converts! Nigeria are closing in on the final.

MISS! Nigeria 2-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:47 , Matt Verri

But South Africa can’t level it up!

Makgopa with a weak penalty, easily saved.

MISS! Nigeria 2-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:47 , Matt Verri

AINA CAN’T SCORE!

Nigeria lose their advantage, Aina blasts it over the bar.

GOAL! Nigeria 2-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:46 , Matt Verri

Mayambela gets Bafana Bafana on the board!

GOAL! Nigeria 2-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:45 , Matt Verri

Omeruo strolls up to the ball and rolls it into the bottom corner!

MISS! Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:44 , Matt Verri

Mokoena scored in normal time... CAN’T SCORE HERE!

Huge save. Advantage Nigeria.

GOAL! Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:43 , Matt Verri

Moffi gets the Super Eagles off to a perfect start!

Here we go!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:42 , Matt Verri

Nigeria to take the first penalty.

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:40 , Matt Verri

South Africa have had experience of this very recently, having beaten Cape Verde on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Nigeria haven’t had to rely on spot-kicks, but they must hold their nerve now.

Final decisions are being made.

FT: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:37 , Matt Verri

We’re going to penalties!

It’s been a chaotic 120 minutes, but it remains level. South Africa survive that little spell with ten men.

A shootout for a place in the AFCON final.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:35 , Matt Verri

120 mins: Troost-Ekong with potentially the most cynical shirt pull of all time.

Mayambela was breaking for South Africa, almost has his shirt ripped off. Yellow card.

Two minutes added on.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:33 , Matt Verri

118 mins: Iheanacho to take... straight at Williams.

It’s unsurprisingly all Nigeria now. South Africa desperately trying to hold on for penalties.

RED CARD!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:30 , Matt Verri

Kekana is indeed shown a straight red!

South Africa will have to survive the final five minutes with ten men.

Free-kick right on the edge of the area.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:29 , Matt Verri

114 mins: We’re not seeing any replays, which is helpful.

Long, long check. At long last, the referee is over to look at the monitor.

Replay shows it was just about outside the area. Kekana might well be off though.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:27 , Matt Verri

112 mins: Moffi is clean through, this is Nigeria’s chance.

He’s surely fouled?! Referee waves away the appeals though.

VAR checking this. Think it was outside the area, but could be a red card.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:26 , Matt Verri

110 mins: Big, big call for the Super Eagles.

Osimhen has been brought off, Moffi on in his place. The Napoli striker’s night is over.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:23 , Matt Verri

108 mins: Not a great clearance from Bassey, corner for South Africa.

Mokoena with a great ball in, header from Ajayi to clear is just as good though.

Back underway!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:21 , Matt Verri

Here we go then. It’s the second period of extra time.

And Nigeria should score inside 20 seconds! Aina whips the ball in, Osimhen too strong in the air but he heads over.

HT in ET: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:19 , Matt Verri

We’ve had 105 minutes, still it’s level. Only 15 more to go, and then it will be penalties.

Both sides have had chances, impossible to predict how it finishes.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:17 , Matt Verri

105 mins: Aina with the long throw into the box, too long. Williams gathers.

Just the one minute added on.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:15 , Matt Verri

103 mins: Dear me.

Ball over the top of the South Africa defence, Williams charges off his line to clear.

Mvala gets there first though, heads it on and Williams is stranded. Mvala just about completes the clearing job, as Osimhen lurks.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:14 , Matt Verri

102 mins: Onyeka booked for a foul, that’s the first yellow card of the match.

Two Nigeria changes. Lookman and Onyeka are off, as Iheanacho and Aribo come on.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:13 , Matt Verri

101 mins: South Africa corner, as Makgopa holds the ball up well. Bassey charges down the cross.

Tau swings it in, Nwabili off his line to punch it away.

Nigeria break, Lookman leading the charge. Finds Osimhen, hammers an effort at goal from distance and it’s a superb save from Williams!

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:10 , Matt Verri

98 mins: Nigeria win it back, there’s space for Osimhen to drive into.

He’s away down the left, but it’s so good from Kekana to charge across, slide in and halt the break.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:09 , Matt Verri

96 mins: Real threat from South Africa is coming down their right.

Mudau still full of energy, flying up the pitch from full-back. Good spell of possession from Bafana Bafana, controlling things at the moment.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:05 , Matt Verri

93 mins: And here come Nigeria at the other end.

Lookman drives into the box, onto his left foot and it’s a good strike across goal, Williams with a strong hand to deny him.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:04 , Matt Verri

92 mins: Nigeria have settled down again, after looking all over the place at the end of normal time.

But here come South Africa, Lepasa briefly looks to be clean through. Ajayi does well to slow him down, and the chance goes.

Back underway!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:02 , Matt Verri

We’re up and running in extra time!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:00 , Matt Verri

Nigeria were minutes away from the AFCON final, but this South Africa side refuse to give up.

First time in the tournament that the Super Eagles have been taken to extra time.

Anyone’s game from here!

FT: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:58 , Matt Verri

AND BREATHE.

We’re going to extra-time.

Crazy match. Osimhen thought he’d doubled the lead for Nigeria, seconds later it was level.

We’ve got 30 more minutes to come.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:57 , Matt Verri

90+6 mins: WHAT A MISS!

South Africa should be in front!

Mokoena’s free-kick is parried straight out, Mudau is there for the rebound but he sends it over the bar. HAD to score.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:55 , Matt Verri

90+4 mins: South Africa with three shots blocked in the box, Nigeria are hanging on for dear life. It’s chaos at the back!

And now Sithole is tripped by Lookman, free-kick South Africa.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:54 , Matt Verri

90+3 mins: It’s all South Africa.

Ball into the box, Makgopa goes for the overhead kick but it’s well over the bar.

Nigeria just need to make it to extra-time, they look really nervous.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:53 , Matt Verri

90+2 mins: Williams is fine to continue.

We’ll have six minutes more, otherwise it will be extra-time in this semi-final.

Nigeria 1-1 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:51 , Matt Verri

90 mins: Six minutes added on. Thought it would be plenty more than that.

Might well still be. Williams has gone down in goal for South Africa, he needs some treatment.

GOAL! Nigeria 1-1 South Africa | Teboho Mokoena 89'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:49 , Matt Verri

MOKOENA SCORES!

It’s level in this remarkable semi-final!

PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:48 , Matt Verri

INCREDIBLE.

Osimhen’s goal does not stand - Bafana Bafana with a massive opportunity to level the match up.

VAR check!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:47 , Matt Verri

Well then!

The referee is over to look at the monitor.

Tau thinks he was fouled at the other end, in the build-up to the goal. What a huge moment.

GOAL! Nigeria 2-0 South Africa | Victor Osimhen 85'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:46 , Matt Verri

THAT SHOULD DO IT!

Nigeria charge away on the counter, Osayi-Samuel picked out in the box.

He squares it for Osimhen, who has an open goal and will not be missing from two yards out.

Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:44 , Matt Verri

84 mins: Superb goalkeeping from Williams!

Lookman is clean through on goal, looks to go round the goalkeeper but Williams stretches out an arm to grab the ball.

Nigeria should really have killed this match off.

Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:43 , Matt Verri

82 mins: Super Eagles doing a good job of ticking away the minutes, no real flow to the match.

Ball launched long into the box, Aina and Osimhen both close to getting on the end of it, but South Africa clear.

Osimhen charges back, commits the foul to stop the counter. It’s clever play.

Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:40 , Matt Verri

79 mins: Tau takes it himself, right on top of Nwabili.

He does well to punch it away under pressure, and he’s stayed down after taking a bit of contact.

Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:39 , Matt Verri

78 mins: Tau fouled out wide, chance for South Africa to whip something into the box.

There’s still time for them...

Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:36 , Matt Verri

75 mins: Just wide!

Wow. South Africa inches away from levelling it up.

Makgopa with a lovely turn on the edge of the area, fires an effort at goal and it whistles past the far post. Nwabili was not getting anywhere near that.

Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:33 , Matt Verri

72 mins: Nigeria have kept four consecutive clean sheets, not conceding since their opening match of the tournament. Keep that run going for 18 more minutes, and they are in the final.

Osimhen fires the ball across the face of goal, nobody there for Nigeria to turn it home.

Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:31 , Matt Verri

70 mins: Nigeria full of confidence now, looking to find a second goal to really take control.

Mvala again with a foul, catches Onyeka. Free-kick in a dangerous position for Nigeria.

Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:27 , Matt Verri

68 mins: Williams saved four penalties in the shootout win over Cape Verde - he almost saved that!

Went the right way, ball crept underneath him in the end. He’ll be a bit disappointed.

GOAL! Nigeria 1-0 South Africa | William Troost-Ekong 66'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:26 , Matt Verri

It’s the captain to take it.

And Troost-Ekong makes no mistake! Nigeria lead in the semi-final.

PENALTY NIGERIA!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:25 , Matt Verri

Brilliant from Osimhen!

Holds the ball up, turns and skips past the challenges. Into the box, Mvala sticks out a leg and brings him down.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:23 , Matt Verri

62 mins: Double change for Nigeria.

Iwobi and Simon off, Chukwueze and Yusuf are on for the Super Eagles.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:22 , Matt Verri

61 mins: Lookman drives inside off the left wing, he’s surrounded by four white shirts as he moves into the box.

Holds onto the ball, lays it off for Onyeka and his first-time shot is WILD. High and wide.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:20 , Matt Verri

60 mins: South Africa are just growing into this match again, getting bodies up the pitch and easing the pressure on their defence.

Tau the man who looks like making things happen, but he just overhits that pass as he tries to find Makgopa over the top.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:17 , Matt Verri

57 mins: Super Eagles stand up a ball to the back post, Osimhen gets up above Kekana but he can’t keep the header down.

Loops over the bar, South Africa just about holding on.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:16 , Matt Verri

55 mins: Yet another Nigeria corner coming up. Can they make this pressure count?

Lookman with pace to the near post this time, but again South Africa are up to the task of defending it.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:14 , Matt Verri

54 mins: Lovely piece of skill from Osimhen out wide, chops his way out of trouble and wins a corner.

Osimhen not far away from getting on the end of the set-piece, but Makgopa is back in his own box with a big header.

Bafana Bafana break, Tau drives into the box and goes down... appeals waved away.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:12 , Matt Verri

51 mins: Nigeria have been so much better since half-time, whatever was said at the break has worked.

Simon played in behind, wins a corner for the Super Eagles. Pressure building.

Lookman swings it to the back post, beyond Ajayi and Onyeka.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:09 , Matt Verri

49 mins: Simon in space down Nigeria’s right, but Mvala steps across and wins it back.

South Africa threaten to break, Makgopa with a run down the middle and he very nearly gets the pass, but Ekong manages to intercept on the stretch.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:07 , Matt Verri

47 mins: Nigeria on the front foot at the start of this half.

Aina makes a good run down the left, decent ball in but it’s headed away with Lookman lurking in the middle.

Osimhen had gone down in the box seconds before, but there were no real appeals.

Back underway!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:05 , Matt Verri

Up and running again. Time to find out if we will have a winner in normal time!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:04 , Matt Verri

Players are waiting in the tunnel, they will be out very shortly.

Second-half coming up in just a minute or so.

Will 90 minutes be enough?

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:59 , Matt Verri

Nigeria got the job done after 90 minutes against Cameroon and then Angola, to book their place in the semi-finals.

As for South Africa, they went all the way to penalties last time out as they edged past Cape Verde.

Wouldn’t rule out this going to extra-time, or even to a shootout.

First-half stats...

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:53 , Matt Verri

South Africa with more of the ball, they’ve had 59% possession.

Four shots, three on target. The best of those came from Makgopa, who was denied by a really good save.

Nigeria have had a couple of efforts that have tested Williams, but nothing particularly troubling.

One bit of real quality could be enough to settle this match.

HT: Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:49 , Matt Verri

And that’s half-time in the semi-final.

Nothing to split them after 45 minutes, it’s just as tense as most predicted.

Very little in the way of clear-cut chances so far.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:47 , Matt Verri

45 mins: That was nearly the moment for Osimhen and Nigeria.

Good ball in from the corner from Lookman, Osimhen pretty much on the penalty spot and he gets up superbly. Almost a free header, but he can’t hit the target. Big chance.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:46 , Matt Verri

44 mins: Nigeria’s turn to enjoy a bit more time on the ball.

Ball flicked forward down the right, Osimhen slides it wide to Onyeka.

Chance to put something into the middle, can’t pick anyone out with the cut-back. Aina then has a cross charged down, corner Nigeria.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:43 , Matt Verri

41 mins: The Super Eagles might need to tweak their tactics slightly.

South African centre-backs are being allowed a lot of time on the ball, and it’s allowing them to play those long balls over the top that are causing Nigeria problems.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:41 , Matt Verri

39 mins: Great save!

Ball launched forward, sensational touch from Tau to lay it off for Makgopa.

Exactly who South Africa want it to fall too, curling effort is tipped away by Nwabili.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:40 , Matt Verri

38 mins: Nigeria with their first attack in a while, better from the Super Eagles.

Ball played back to Iwobi, who has plenty of space just outside the box. Tries to curl a shot into the far corner, doesn’t set it out far enough though and Williams can comfortably save.

Chances at both ends, match opening up a bit now.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:38 , Matt Verri

36 mins: Ball over the top once more from South Africa, Tau is in.

Flag stays down, Ekong can’t keep up with him but it’s a really poor touch from Tau, through to Nwabili.

He was onside, that would have counted had Tau provided the finish.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:37 , Matt Verri

35 mins: Up come the centre-backs. Tau to take.

Deep to the back post, Sithole gets the better of Iwobi but he can’t direct the header and the ball bounces well wide.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:36 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Cooling break done, pattern of the match is swiftly resumed. South Africa knocking the ball around at the back, no real pressure on them.

They then go long, Osayi-Samuel gets a flick on that as he tries to clear and it’s a corner for South Africa out of nothing.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:34 , Matt Verri

32 mins: Both sides will be happy enough with the start to this match. It’s been tight, as we expected.

South Africa have had just under 60% of the ball so far, with a couple of shots on target.

Ajayi’s header the only effort Nigeria have managed on target.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:33 , Matt Verri

30 mins: Fair to say Osimhen isn’t lacking in confidence...

South Africa lose it, Osimhen is about ten yards inside his own half but looks up and sees Williams off his line.

Goes for an incredibly ambitious effort, shot is charged down though. Would have been something very special.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:31 , Matt Verri

29 mins: South Africa all of a sudden enjoying a dangerous spell, their best of the match.

Ball falls for Tau on the edge of the box, space for the shot but it’s straight at Nwabili.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:29 , Matt Verri

27 mins: Big chance!

South Africa are away down the right, Mudau played in. He’s got Zwane completely free in the middle, waiting for it to be squared, but Onyeka gets back and makes the interception.

Mudau had to get the ball away quicker. He wants a penalty, as the ball in is charged down. Never getting that.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:28 , Matt Verri

26 mins: Brilliant from Ajayi at the other end!

Zwane looks to be driving into space in the box, but the Nigerian defender slides in and pokes the ball away. Crucial touch.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:26 , Matt Verri

24 mins: Makgopa with the foul, free-kick for Nigeria in a really good position. Aina and Lookman standing over it.

Bit of a delay, Osimhen and Sithole warned for getting a bit too close to each other.

Ball swung in eventually, Ajayi gets up well at the back post but a comfortable save for Williams.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:24 , Matt Verri

22 mins: Long spell of Nigeria possession, not a huge amount of pace to the attack though.

South Africa then win it back, long ball down the channel for Tau to race onto. He would have been away, but Nwabili reads it and rushes off his line.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:22 , Matt Verri

19 mins: Modiba and Simon already having a real battle on that wing.

The Nigeria man looks to use his strength to go on the outside, tries to just win a corner, but it’s rock solid from Modiba to hold him off.

At the other end, Makgopa goes down in the box. Penalised himself for handball, as he threw his arms up to appeal!

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:18 , Matt Verri

16 mins: More like it from South Africa, their first real attack of the match.

Ball played back to Sithole, goes for goal from about 25 yards out. Catches the strike well, straight at the goalkeeper though.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:16 , Matt Verri

14 mins: South Africa try and play their way out of defence, Mudau knocks it straight out of play.

Aina can swing a cross into the box, Williams comes and doesn’t get much of it... ball somehow runs through everyone!

Osimhen and Simon were both close, looks like Williams actually got a slight touch. Took it away from Osimhen.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:14 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Nigeria not pressing high, content to sit back when South Africa do have the ball. That’s been a familiar tactic from the Super Eagles throughout the tournament.

Even start to this semi-final, Nigeria just about on top.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:11 , Matt Verri

9 mins: Simon has been sharp in the opening minutes, Osimhen very nearly sets him away out wide. Pass just about intercepted.

Ajayi drives forward on the right, whips a ball in from deep but it’s over everyone and out of play. Applause from Osimhen, he liked the idea.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:08 , Matt Verri

6 mins: Osimhen looks to be moving ok, after that early scare. Clearly not fully fit, but good enough to be on the pitch.

South Africa keen to go long when they do get the ball, Ekong dealing well with anything in the air though.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:06 , Matt Verri

4 mins: Nigeria seeing most of the ball in the early stages, looking for a quick start.

That won’t bother a South Africa defence who have kept four clean shoots on the bounce though.

Aina puts a low ball into the middle, South Africa scramble it awa.

Nigeria 0-0 South Africa

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:04 , Matt Verri

1 mins: Disaster for Nigeria here.

Osimhen has gone down after 20 seconds, holding his stomach and looking in a of pain.

Wasn’t any contact either - that pre-match problem is still bothering him. Going to carry on for now.

KICK-OFF!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:02 , Matt Verri

We’re underway. Strap yourselves in.

Wednesday 7 February 2024 16:59 , Matt Verri

Anthems done. Handshakes done.

It’s time to get this semi-final up and running!

Here we go!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 16:56 , Matt Verri

The players are out.

This is a 15th AFCON semi-final for Nigeria, no country has played in more of them.

They are the favourites, but South Africa have had no issues playing the underdog role all tournament.

Four former champions

Wednesday 7 February 2024 16:51 , Matt Verri

All four teams still in the hunt at AFCON have lifted the trophy before.

For all their have been plenty of shocks, with Morocco and Senegal among those to fall earlier, these four nations will all believe they firmly belong at this stage.

Players will be out onto the pitch very, very shortly.

Not long now!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 16:47 , Matt Verri

Just under 15 minutes to go until kick-off.

Not sure any reminder is necessary, but just in case. A place in the AFCON final is on the line, with Ivory Coast or DR Congo waiting for the winner.

Whoever falls short tonight will instead have to settle for a third-place play-off.

Match to go the distance?

Wednesday 7 February 2024 16:41 , Matt Verri

Nigeria have kept four consecutive clean sheets, conceding just one goal all tournament.

South Africa, too, are on a run of four straight clean sheets, with two goals conceded on their run to the semi-final.

Both sides rock solid at the back. Would be no surprise if 90 minutes, or even 120 minutes, was not enough to split them.

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