New Sevilla striker Kelechi Iheanacho has reminisced about the pivotal moment when he scored Nigeria’s winning penalty in a dramatic shootout against South Africa at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles, who entered the tournament with low expectations, defied the odds by reaching the final in February.
Nigeria’s journey to the final was a tale of resilience, overcoming a challenging start to the tournament. A 2-0 defeat to Guinea in their final pre-tournament friendly had heightened concerns about the team’s form.
However, under the tactical guidance of head coach José Peseiro, the three-time African champions found their rhythm and pushed through to the last match.
The Super Eagles faced stiff competition along the way, including narrow victories over Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon, and Angola.
The semifinal clash with South Africa was particularly tense, ending in a 1-1 draw after regulation time. South Africa’s late equalizer, following a VAR intervention, sent the match to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as the hero, making two crucial saves before Iheanacho secured the win by converting the decisive penalty.
Reflecting on that moment, Iheanacho expressed regret that he celebrated by running around the pitch instead of acknowledging Nwabali’s contributions.
Iheanacho shared his thoughts on Twitter: “What a moment! I even forgot to hug the hero @nwabalibobo.”
Despite the euphoria of the semifinal victory, Nigeria’s AFCON journey ended in heartbreak as they lost to hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the final, leaving the Super Eagles still searching for their first continental title since 2013.
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