Samuel Chukwueze’s first half strike and an 89th minute goal from William Troost-Ekong was all it took for the super eagles to send Bafana Bafana parking from the 2019 African cup of Nations and also book a place in the semi-finals at the Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday.
Nigeria has now meet South Africa 3 times in the African cup of Nations and 3 times Nigeria has emerged Victorious.
The super Eagles came out from the dressing room with more strive and ambition and created a few missed opportunities in the opening minutes.
Bafana’s Sifiso Hlanti was fortunate not to be shown a straight red after a rough tackle on Chidozie Awaziem but Lebo Motihiba was shown the first yellow of the game in the 14th minute for pulling Awaziem’s shirt.
In the 26th minute the super Eagles had a penalty shout turned down by Moroccan referee, Redoune Jiyed but seconds later, the Nigerians grabbed the opener in the 27th minute through Villarreal forward Chukwueze with a well-placed shot after a neat dribble and fine work from Alex Iwobi.
Chuwueze almost got his second in the 42nd minutes after dribbling past three defenders but saw his shot blocked by Bafana goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams.
The West Africans started the second half on the front foot again and almost got the second goal when Oghenekaro Etebo saw his superb free-kick hit the crossbar.
South Africa got the equaliser in the 74th minute after Bongani Zungu nodded in a cross from Percy Tau. There was an initial call for an offside but VAR showed that the ball came off the back of Odion Ighalo before getting to Zungu.
Rohr made his first substitution in the 81st minute bringing on Moses Simon for the tired Ahmed Musa.
Nigeria were back in front with just a minute to full time. Substitute Simon crossed in a superb corner, which keeper Williams failed to deal with and he was punished by Troost-Ekong, who pounced on the loose ball and fired his side to a historical win with a simple tap-in.
Nigeria will face the winners of the Ivory Coast versus Algeria last eight clash in the semi-final of the tournament.
AFCON: Senegal beat Benin to reach semis
Senegal advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals after a 69th minute goal by Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye ended Benin’s tournament.
Gueye started and finished a move which saw Liverpool’s Sadio Mane tee up his team-mate to score in Cairo.
The Video Assistant Referee system has been introduced from the quarter-final stage and Mane had two goals disallowed for offside after VAR checks.
Benin’s Olivier Verdon was sent off near the end for a foul on Gueye.
Before Gueye’s goal, his first in Egypt, Benin – who had reached this stage without winning a match in normal time – almost took the lead after a horrific mistake by keeper Alfred Gomis.
He mis-controlled a routine back-pass, the ball spinning off his boot before going narrowly wide of his own post.
But Gueye’s goal means Senegal are two wins from winning the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.
Aliou Cisse’s team will meet minnows Madagascar or Tunisia in the semi-finals on Sunday in Cairo.
