Welcome to Bouaké for the 2023(4) AFCON semi final between Nigeria and South Africa! Is this a record for the fewest people in attendance at a continental semi final? The 40000 capacity Stade de la Paix is looking pretty empty!

RM

Two constants when Nigeria play at this AFCON:

1) Pressing opposition players all over the pitch to good effect.

2) Trumpet music from their fans,

So far I’m preferring 2.

14 minutes played, Nigeria 0 - South Africa 0.

RM

HT: Nigeria 0 - South Africa 0

South Africa with more attacking play than you might expect.

RM

Nigeria previously took the lead with a penalty.

80 minutes gone Nigeria 1 - South Africa 0

RM

On 2024-02-07 1:41 p.m., Real_Mardin wrote:
> Nigeria previously took the lead with a penalty.
>
> 80 minutes gone Nigeria 1 - South Africa 0
>
>
> RM

90th min penalties rule

1-1

Nigeria win the ball in their own penalty area then launch a swift counterattack which leaves Osminhen a tap in to put them 2-0 up and into the final.

OR NOT!

VAR review.....

Was Osimhen offside?

NO!

VAR spots the original Nigeria challenge was a foul in the area - Youssef fouled Percy Tau - penalty to South Africa!

Moquena sends the keeper the wrong way from the penalty- 1-1!

From thinking they were out South Africa are back in this!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen VAR turn a goal for one side into a penalty for the other!

Nigeria 1 - South Africa 1 90 minutes, six minutes injury time,.

RM

Nigeria keeper parries away Moquena’s long distance free kick, rebound falls to a South Africa striker, surely he’ll score............

NO! He puts the ball over the bar! South Africa could have won the match there.

FT: Nigeria 1 - South Africa 1

The first semi final goes into extra time.

RM

More VAR drama, Kekana takes out a Nigeria player when through on goal - but was the foul inside or outside the area?

After a lengthy review the ref decides outside the area (it looked close) but Kekana is sent off. South Africa down to 10 men.

118 minutes 1-1.

RM

On 2024-02-07 2:33 p.m., Real_Mardin wrote:
> More VAR drama, Kekana takes out a Nigeria player when through on goal -
> but was the foul inside or outside the area?
>
> After a lengthy review the ref decides outside the area (it looked
> close) but Kekana is sent off. South Africa down to 10 men.
>
> 118 minutes 1-1.
>
>
> RM

I get the last man back red card rule and it probably doesnt mean
anything anyway, but a red card seemed harsh.

But off to Penals!

Ref blows for full time on 120 minutes (surely a few minutes should have been added on for the VAR review?) - we’re going to penalties,

RM

First round penalties:

Moffi sends Williams the wrong way to put Nigeria 1-0 up.

Nwabili saves from Moquena!

RM

Third round:

Aina blasts over the bar! Nigeria miss!

Makgopa shoots low - keeper saves!

2-1 Nigeria.

RM

Second round:

Omeruwo sends Williams the wrong way.

Myambela scores.

2-1 Nigeria.

RM

Fourth round:

Troost Ekong beats Williams.

If South Africa miss it’s over.

Mvala sends keeper the wrong way - 3-2 Nigeria.

RM

Fifth round:

Ihenaco for Nigeria......

......beats Williams.......

........hits the post..........

......and bounces in!

Nigeria win the penalty shootout 4-2!

South Africa let Nigeria slip through their fingers, they could have put them away in the 90.

RM

Just as everyone predicted, Ivory Coast vs Nigeria final.

On 2024-02-07 2:51 p.m., Real_Mardin wrote:
> Fifth round:
>
> Ihenaco for Nigeria......
>
> .....beats Williams.......
>
> .......hits the post..........
>
> .....and bounces in!
>
> Nigeria win the penalty shootout 4-2!
>
>
> South Africa let Nigeria slip through their fingers, they could have put
> them away in the 90.
>
>
> RM

FT:

Ivory Coast 1 - DR Congo 0

Ivory Cosst lost their final group stage match 4-0 to Ecquatorial Guinea and somehow limped through as a higher ranked third placed team and now they’re in the final.

The final is Ivory Coast - Nigeria, which objectively places the luckiest team against the best team.

RM

On Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 10:11:04 PM UTC, Real_Mardin wrote:
> FT:
>
> Ivory Coast 1 - DR Congo 0
>
>
> Ivory Cosst lost their final group stage match 4-0 to Ecquatorial Guinea and somehow limped through as a higher ranked third placed team and now they’re in the final.
>
> The final is Ivory Coast - Nigeria, which objectively places the luckiest team against the best team.
>
>
> RM

So I've proved myself very consistent! 4 out of 8 correct predictions for the 2nd round matches; 2 out of 4 in the quarter-finals; and 1 out of 2 in the semi-finals!

Ivory Coast have got no business being in the final! Ghana and Zambia have got as much right to be there as Ivory Coast.

Mark wrote:
>
> Ivory Coast have got no business being in the final! Ghana and
> Zambia have got as much right to be there as Ivory Coast.

Now, now, no need for sour grapes... the back-to-front paddies have
earned the right to be there!

Côte d'Ivoire gave us Didier Drogba so I'm cheering them on in the
Final... Nigeria gave us Mikel John Obi, so the less said about that
the better!!!

On Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 10:03:14 PM UTC, Blueshirt wrote:
> Mark wrote:
> >
> > Ivory Coast have got no business being in the final! Ghana and
> > Zambia have got as much right to be there as Ivory Coast.
> Now, now, no need for sour grapes... the back-to-front paddies have
> earned the right to be there!
>
How?

Mark wrote:

> On Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 10:03:14 PM UTC, Blueshirt wrote:
> > Mark wrote:
> > >
> > > Ivory Coast have got no business being in the final! Ghana and
> > > Zambia have got as much right to be there as Ivory Coast.
> >
> > Now, now, no need for sour grapes... the back-to-front paddies
> > have earned the right to be there!
> >
> How?

They're there! So they are clearly better than the teams that didn't
get there. Nobody has a right to anything, you earn it...

I hope Côte d'Ivoire go on and win it now.

Blueshirt wrote:

> Mark wrote:

>> On Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 10:03:14 PM UTC, Blueshirt wrote:
>> > Mark wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Ivory Coast have got no business being in the final! Ghana and
>> > > Zambia have got as much right to be there as Ivory Coast.
>> >
>> > Now, now, no need for sour grapes... the back-to-front paddies
>> > have earned the right to be there!
>> >
>> How?

> They're there! So they are clearly better than the teams that didn't
> get there. Nobody has a right to anything, you earn it...

> I hope Côte d'Ivoire go on and win it now.

They're not clearly better, and haven't earned it any more, than Ghana or Zambia though. Or to clarify, they haven't earned a place in the 2nd round any more than Zambia or Ghana.

Mark wrote:

> Blueshirt wrote:
>
> > Mark wrote:
>
> > > On Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 10:03:14 PM UTC, Blueshirt
> > > wrote:
>
> > They're there! So they are clearly better than the teams that
> > didn't get there. Nobody has a right to anything, you earn it...
>
> > I hope Côte d'Ivoire go on and win it now.
>
> They're not clearly better, and haven't earned it any more, than
> Ghana or Zambia though. Or to clarify, they haven't earned a place
> in the 2nd round any more than Zambia or Ghana.

Tournaments are not about peaking in the group stage, they are about
getting out of the group stage and peaking - optimally - in the
Final.

Having a poor group stage will mean for nothing if Côte d'Ivoire go
on an win AFCON.

The final starts in 10 minutes.

Three times winners and hosts Ivory Coast v four times winners Nigeria.

All Ivory Coast’s previous finals have been 0-0 draws!

This is being broadcast 173 countries.

RM

38 minutes, a Nigeria corner is initially headed away, but it’s high and loose and Ekong rises to head it in to give Nigeria the lead!

Ivory Coast have had more attacking play but Nigeria ahead where it matters!

RM