Nigeria-South Africa: Imperial Nwabili, no new miracle for Williams... the tops and the flops

TOPS

Undefeated for four matches in Nigerian goals, Stanley Nwabili almost remained undefeated for one more match. But that was without counting on an improbable turnaround, which led to a penalty on the gong (90th). But the main thing was elsewhere for the Nigerian goalkeeper, hero of an entire country after the qualification of the Super Eagles at the expense of South Africa (1-1, 4-2 on the tabs). Impeccable for a long time, now his team in the part of a superb parade (39th) or anticipating in depth (50th), he will therefore only have been beaten closely before shining in the penalty shootout, leaving on the right side three-quarters of the time, deflecting two attempts, including that of Mokoena, who had beaten him earlier in the game. MVP.

Announced forfeit then uncertain, Victor Osimhen finally held his place, to the great happiness of an entire nation. Affected from the start in the abdominals, the reason for his recent uncertainty, the star center-forward entered his match timidly before raising the threat in the air (44th, 55th). Above all, the Napoli player forced the decision by going to scratch a penalty after a festival in front of the area (65th) before thinking of sealing the qualification with a goal ultimately refused for... a South African penalty beforehand. Still dangerous in overtime (101st, 106th), he will have had nothing to reproach himself for before leaving (110th).

It took guts to take the ball from Osimhen and convert a penalty that the number 9 had himself caused. It was also necessary to present themselves against Ronwen Williams, who remained on a festival in the exercise (4 shots on goal saved out of 5 in the quarters). But William Troost-Ekong did not tremble, or almost, since his penalty passed under the stomach of his opponent. Sixth goal in the selection for the defender who spent time with the Dutch youth teams before becoming a member of the Super Eagles, where he was once again the most reliable element behind, notably making an “intelligent mistake” in the money time (118th) before again succeeding in his shot on goal.

FLOPS

Another memorable penalty shootout would have elevated him to the star rank of this CAN 2024, but Ronwen Williams did not have the same success, remaining powerless on each Nigerian attempt. Unhappy with Troost-Ekong's penalty earlier, he also failed in the aerial game due to his size (1.84m) but also the wanderings of his Mvala-Kekana hinge, long undermined by Osimhen. The last city will even be excluded at the end of the match for a fault as the last defender which was mainly a sacrifice (115th).

Eyes were (also) riveted on him, but Ademola Lookman will not have had the influence of previous days. Author of the last three Nigerian goals since the opening of the elimination phase, the Atalanta striker was much less visible against the physical challenge of Bafana Bafana, apart from a dangerous strike at the start of extra time (93rd). Nantes' Moses Simon, his counterpart on the left, will have missed almost everything he did before leaving... two minutes before his team opened the score.