South Africa, on Saturday night, defeated Cape Verde on penalties to set up a semi-final clash with Nigeria in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

South Africa goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, saved four penalties in a shootout as his country beat Cape Verde 2-1 in a shootout after a 0-0 draw following extra time in Yamoussoukro.

Bryan Teixeira was the only Cape Verdean to score from the spot while Teboho Mokoena and Mothobi Mvala netted for South Africa.

South Africa are back in the semi-finals for the first time since 2000 when they lost to then co-hosts Nigeria, their opponents in Bouake on Wednesday.

On Friday, Nigeria edged Angola 1-0 through an Ademola Lookman goal and DR Congo came from behind to beat Guinea 3-1 with a late Arthur Masuaku goal from a free-kick sealing success.

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Nigeria, who can call on reigning African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, have won the AFCON three times, Cote d’Ivoire and DR Congo twice each, and South Africa once.

A brilliant back-heel by substitute Oumar Diakite in added time at the end of extra time in Bouake gave Cote d’Ivoire a 2-1 victory over Mali, who dominated much of the quarter-final and scored first, on Saturday.

Cote d’Ivoire-born Nene Dorgeles put Mali ahead in the 71st minute against the host nation, who were reduced to 10 men just before half-time when Odilon Kossounou was sent off.

But another Ivorian substitute, Simon Adingra, levelled in the 90th minute to take the pulsating West African showdown into extra time.

Then, with the quarter-final seemingly set to be decided by a penalty shootout, Diakite back-heeled a drive from a teammate past Mali goalkeeper, Djigui Diarra.

Diakite, who had been yellow-carded earlier, took off his shirt when celebrating, leading to a second caution followed by a red card.

The victory came at a high price as suspensions rule Diakite, Kossounou, captain Serge Aurier, and Christian Kouame out of a semi-final against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday.

The Star