Despite a resilient effort, a 10-man Bafana Bafana faced a heart-wrenching defeat against Nigeria in a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, losing 2-4 on penalties in Côte d’Ivoire.
Coach Hugo Broos’ valiant squad displayed remarkable courage throughout the match, forcing it into extra time and eventually a tense penalty shootout, despite being a man down after Grant Kekana received a red card in the final minutes of extra time.
The deadlock was broken in the 63rd minute when William Troost-Ekong netted a penalty for Nigeria after Victor Osimhen was brought down inside the area. However, South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena restored parity in the 90th minute, also converting a penalty against Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
The penalty decision for Bafana Bafana was awarded after a VAR consultation by Egyptian referee Amin Omar. Despite the spirited effort, Bafana Bafana will now prepare to compete against the losing side in the second semi-final between hosts Côte d’Ivoire and DR Congo in the third-place playoff scheduled for Saturday.
Unlock Exclusive Content!
Subscribe to the Pondoland Times weekly newsletter for trusted alerts on SASSA payments, NSFAS funding, and breaking local news. Get exclusive interviews, community features, and verified stories you can rely on—delivered straight to your inbox.
