Outstanding Semi-finals

The three-time AFCON winners, Nigeria were given a scare but reached the Africa Cup of Nations finals after goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved two penalties in the shoot-out after the game ended 1-1 in the extra time.

Nigeria lost in the last six semi-final contests, but this time round they took a place in Sunday’s final fixture. The first half ended with a draw but during the second half, William Troost Ekong opened the first point in the game after Nigeria was awarded a penalty and he did not hesitate to score. In the 90th minute, the bafana bafana equalized the match after a foul was given to Nigeria.

Teboho Mokoena was given the chance to score and he didn’t disappoint. During the extra time, South Africa was hit by a shock with their defender Grant Kekana receiving a red card after facing constant pressure from the Super Eagles. In the shootouts, they also lost their nerve, and heroic keeper Stanley Nwabali saved them from Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa, leading to a 4-2 win.

This will be the first final venture for Ivory Coast after a narrow win against the Democratic Republic of Congo since they last won the cup in 2015.

Dortmund striker Sebastian Haller struck the winning goal keeping the Elephant’s dream of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations’s title while on home soil Ivory Coast will be facing Nigeria in the finals on Sunday.

Ivory Coast events in the tournament.

The sacking head coach in the group stages

The first Afcon title was in 1992 and in 2015

It has appeared in the finals nine times.

It has only lost two matches in the last three played.