Nigeria, Feb. 8 -- A cagey encounter between two past AFCON champions, Nigeria and South Africa, was settled on penalties after 90 minutes and extra time ended 1-1.

William Troost Ekong scored for Nigeria in the 67th minute, while Mothiba Mokoena scored South Africa's equaliser in the 90th minute. In the penalty shootout, South Africa-based Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved the first and third kicks from Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa.

Ola Aina lost Nigeria's third, but Ekong, substitute Kenneth Omeruo, and Iheanacho converted their kicks to send the Super Eagles into an eighth AFCON final, where they will meet either Cote d'Ivoire or DR Congo, who were still playing the second semi-final at the time of this report.

Zaidu Sanusi'...