AFRICA
Chukwueze and Troost-Ekong fire Super Eagles into Afcon 2019 semi-finals
Goals from Samuel Chukwueze and William Troost-Ekong handed the Super Eagles the win, while Bongani Zungu netted Bafana’s goal
Nigeria secured their place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals after defeating south Africa 2-1 in a quarter-final match on Wednesday night.
Gernot Rohr made two changes to the team which faced 2017 champions Cameroon in the Round of 16, with Ola Aina replaced by fit-again full-back Jamilu Collins in the starting line-up, while Samuel Chukwueze ousted fellow attacker Moses Simon.
On the other hand, Stuart Baxter named an unchanged team with Thembinkosi Lorch, who netted the goal which earned Bafana Bafana a 1-0 win over the tournament hosts Egypt, making his second successive start.
The match got off to a lively start with both teams searching for an early goal, but neither could land a shot on target in the opening stages of the encounter.
Nigeria’s midfield maestro Wilfred Ndidi fired a powerful long-range shot which flew over the crossbar, before Lorch placed his effort wide of the target at the other end.
Andrew Mbeki