BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

For the eighth time ever, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will play the Africa Cup of Nations final match after out-shooting South Africa in the semi-finals.

It was filled with tension and then drama, but it was the Super Eagles that laughed last as they out-shoot penalty specialists, South Africa to get  to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria won 4-2 on penalties!

And so, the famous penalty saver, Rowen Williams was beaten to the trade as he was unable to save any of the Nigerian penalties, both in the course of the game and in the penalty shoot-out. A new penalty hero emerged in Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali who emerged the man of the match as he saved three of the kicks by South Africa in the penalty shootout that ensued after a 1-1 draw at both full time and the extra time.

Nigeria had taken the lead in the 67^th minute when Victor Osimhen was fouled. William Ekong masterfully converted the shot.

Nigeria thought they had gone 2-0 ahead in they moved from defence into a breakaway attack and Osimhen found the net. The celebration was cut shot by the VAR which ruled that in the build-up to the counter attack  a foul had been committed in Nigeria’s box leading to a penalty which Teboho Mokoena converted on the dot of 90^th minute.

For Nigeria that had not been involved in penalty shootout since 2010 when they they triumphed over Zambia, Wednesday winning was heart-warming.

They had previously triumphed in penalty shootout at the Bouake Stadium 40 years ago. Incidentally, it was also a semi-final match  with Egypt.

Other penalty shootout involving Nigeria in semi-finals are those of 1988 and 1994. Nigeria now awaits the winner of the other semi-finals involving Cote d’Ivoire and Congo DR.