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Nigeria defeated South Africa and advanced to the AFCON final, in a thrilling penalty shootout.
The match ended 1-1 after extra time, and the three-time champions will face either hosts Ivory Coast or the Democratic Republic of Congo in Sunday’s final.
Both regular-time goals were penalty kicks, with Nigeria’s captain William Troost-Ekong scoring after 67 minutes and Teboho Mokoena equalising in the 90th minute.
Mokoena’s equaliser came after Nigeria thought they had scored a second goal with a tap-in from star forward Victor Osimhen.
However, play was resumed at the other end of the field after VAR informed the Egyptian referee that South African Percy Tau had been fouled in the area, and the match official agreed.
Khuliso Mudau had an opportunity to win for South Africa in extra time at the end of regular time, but blasted over after goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved a Mokoena free kick.
In the 115th minute, South Africa reduced to 10 men as Grant Kekana was sent off for a last-defender foul.
Nigeria began the match with a perfect record against South Africa in the major African football championship, having won three consecutive matches.
The Super Eagles defeated Bafana Bafana (The Boys) 2-0 in a 2000 Nigerian semi-final, 4-0 in a group match four years later in Tunisia, and 2-1 in a 2019 quarter-final against Egypt.
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro made one change to the lineup that defeated Angola 1-0, replacing left-back Zaidu Sanusi, who did not train before to the match.
Osimhen, a star Napoli forward, started for the three-time champions after recovering from intestinal pain that caused him to arrive in Bouake late from Abidjan.
