Afrigather 
New Sevilla striker Kelechi Iheanacho has reminisced concerning the pivotal second when he scored Nigeria’s profitable penalty in a dramatic shootout towards South Africa on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng studies.
The Tremendous Eagles, who entered the event with low expectations, defied the percentages by reaching the ultimate in February.
Nigeria’s journey to the ultimate was a story of resilience, overcoming a difficult begin to the event. A 2-0 defeat to Guinea of their last pre-tournament pleasant had heightened issues concerning the workforce’s kind.
Nonetheless, underneath the tactical steering of head coach José Peseiro, the three-time African champions discovered their rhythm and pushed by to the final match.
The Tremendous Eagles confronted stiff competitors alongside the way in which, together with slim victories over Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon, and Angola.
The semifinal conflict with South Africa was notably tense, ending in a 1-1 draw after regulation time. South Africa’s late equalizer, following a VAR intervention, despatched the match to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
Within the shootout, Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged because the hero, making two essential saves earlier than Iheanacho secured the win by changing the decisive penalty.
Reflecting on that second, Iheanacho expressed remorse that he celebrated by operating across the pitch as an alternative of acknowledging Nwabali’s contributions.
Iheanacho shared his ideas on Twitter: “What a second! I even forgot to hug the hero @nwabalibobo.”
https://twitter.com/67Kelechi/standing/1826205927952863551
Regardless of the euphoria of the semifinal victory, Nigeria’s AFCON journey resulted in heartbreak as they misplaced to hosts Cote d’Ivoire within the last, leaving the Tremendous Eagles nonetheless looking for their first continental title since 2013.
