Super Falcons are champions of Africa after winning S'Africa 4-3 on penalties
The Super Falcons have won their ninth AWCON title following a 4-3 win over South Africa after penalties in an entertaining fixture.
There were no goals during regulation time as both teams matched each other strength for strength all through 120 minutes.
Asisat Oshoala missed an 83rd minute penalty but that did not stop the Nigerian team from being victorious as goalkeeper Tochukwu saved the last kick taken by South Africa.
Onome Ebi missed the first spot-kick but South Africa also threw away their second penalty to bring the Super Falcons even in the match.
Francisca Ordega was given the man-of-the-match while Thembi Kgatlana won the most valuable player award.
Cameroon won the Fair Play award as they join Nigeria and South Africa to next year's FIFA's Women's World Cup in France.
Below is the minute by minute live update of the AWCON final between Nigeria and South Africa.
Bafana Bafana takes and saved. Nigeria are champions for the ninth time. they win 4-3 on penalties. Tochukwu the hero on the night.
Chiwendu scores beautiful as Nigeria gets the advantage. Nigeria 4-3 South Africa.
Bafana Bafana takes and scores, similar to her teammates kick. Nigeria 3-3 South Africa.
Ihezuo takes and scores, the keeper was close but not close enough. Nigeria 3-2 South Africa.
Bafana Bafana takes and scores, she sends the keeper the wrong way. Nigeria 2-2 South Africa.
Chikwelu takes and scores an easy won. Nigeria 2-1 South Africa
Bafana Bafana missed. It's all squared. Nigeria 1-1 South Africa.
Ebere steps and buries into the roof of the net. Nigeria 1-1 South Africa
Matlou takes and scores into the roof of the net. Nigeria 0-1 South Africa.
Ebi takes and misses for Nigeria, the ball hits the upright.
120+1' Referee ends the match as we go into penalties.
120' South Africa have another free kick as a minute is added.
117' South Africa a free kick 25-yards from goal, which is taken but fisted away for a corner. Corner taken but Nigeria clear their lines.
116' Oshoala trying to look for another penalty as she rolls over but the decision was not given.
112' SUBSTITUTION! Ordega taken off for Uchendu.
108' Nigeria 0-0 South Africa.
106' The game is restarted as Ebere wins a corner kick for Nigeria. Corner taken but nobody will the final touch.
105' Referee ends the first half of extra time.
104' South Africa have the advantage as Kgatlana runs into space and shoots but was blocked by Onome Ebi.
102' CHANCE! Motalo shoots straight into the hands of the Nigerian goalkeeper again. Good positioning from the Super Falcons number one.
100' Kgatlana tries another menacing run but meets the brick wall of the Nigeria defence as Super Falcon are back in control of the game.
98' CHANCE! Beautiful run from Kgatlana as she runs in zig-zag through the Nigerian defence but shoots straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.
95' CHANCE! Oshoala twists and turns but her shot was saved again by the South African goalkeeper for a corner.
93' Oshoala makes a run and delivers a cross but nobody was at the end of it.
92' YELLOW CARD! Ordega is booked for decent.
91' Extra time begins as both teams are still looking for a goal.
90+4' The referee ends the match as they prepare to go into extra time.
90+2' Oshoala pulls the trigger but well defended by Bayana Bayana, they have been on point on the night.
90' Three minutes has been added as we go into the final minutes of regulation time.
88' Nice link up from Oshoala to Ihezuo who delivers a low cross to Ordega but a timely clearance saves the day for South Africa.
85' At the other end, South Africa tries a long range shot but easily dealt with by the goalkeeper.
84' Chikwelu intercepts a pass in the midfield and runs into space to find Oshoala but she has been flagged for an off side.
83' CHANCE! A header is flicked onto Ordega but a vital block was made by the South African defence. An unlucky one again for Nigeria.
83' Orgeda is fouled by a South African defender and a free kick in a promising position.
81' Less than ten minutes left to play as both teams continue to battle for glory.
79' Nigeria 0-0 South Africa.
77' The complexion of the game has changed as Nigeria continue to mount pressure on their opponents.
75' Missed by Oshoala. She runs towards the ball came with too much fancy as the ball is dragged with proper contact with her right-foot.
74' PENALTY! Ordega has been taken down in the box by South African goalkeeper after getting to the ball from Okobi's pass.
72' SUBSTITUTION! Nyandeni comes in for Ndimeni.
69' Mbane picks up an injury in the midfield and the match has been temporarily stopped.
67' SUBSTITUTION! Matluo comes in for injured Sheda.
64' Fatigue is beginning to set in as the tempo of the game has gone done, this is where character will count for both sides.
62' Lovely piece of skill from Okobi on the right flank but her cross was too strong for Oshoala in the bpx.
61' SUBSTITUTION! Chiwendu Ihezuo comes on for Rasheedat Ajibade.
58' Still Nigeria 0-0 South Africa.
53' Corner taken but defended by Nigeria as the keeper goes down holding her left leg.
52' Kgatlana again seeing plenty of the ball and taking on Ebere and Ordega commits a foul for a free kick to Bayan Bayana. Dangerous cross into the box and South Africa win a corner.
50' Kgatlana dribbles on the right and delivers a beautiful cross and the follow up shot was blocked by Chikwelu.
48' CHANCE! Ajibade's shot was initially blocked and Ordega's follow up could not hit the target. Narrow escape for South Africa.
46' The second 45 minutes begins as Oshoala is cut in an off side position. But at the other end South Africa wins a corner kick. It's a poor one as Nigeria clear their lines.
45+2' The referee ends the first half as it remains goalless.
45' Oshoala makes a darting run into the box looking for a penalty but the referee is having none of it. But wins a corner. Corner taken but no real connection was made as the ball goes for a goal kick.
43' Nigeria 0-0 South Africa.
41' Thembi Kgatlana steals the ball from Onome Ebi but the center-back recovers with an interception for a corner to South Africa. Corner taken but well defended by Nigeria.
39' Great first touch from Ajibade to Oshoala but a timely intervention from the South African captain puts the ball out for a throw-in.
38' Lovely piece of skill from Ordega as she finds her way into the box but had a disappointing final pass to Ajibade but Rita Chikwelu was free waiting for the cut-back.
36' Ajibade has been running in all width of the field as she comes back to defend a shot heading towards the Nigerian goal.
33' Nigeria seem to have woken up from sleep as they are now playing better as every minute passes but the match has not produced a goal yet.
31' Ordega shows strength and skill as she wins a corner for Nigeria. The ball falls kindly for Ajibade from the corner but her shot was blocked.
30' YELLOW CARD! Ebere is shown the first card of the match as she pulls back a South African attacker.
29' Nigeria 0-0 South Africa.
27' An easy corner won by South Africa, but won back by the eight-time African champions.
26' Ajibade crosses to Oshoala but the keeper comes again and collect.
25' The Super Falcons are playing better in the match winning balls in key areas in the midfield and creating chances.
23' CHANCE! Ordega's beautiful run from the left puts in a through ball to Ajibade in the box but was intercepted and a follow up shot from Okobi was saved by the keeper.
21' Oshoala launches a long ball to Ordega but the South African goal keeper was quickest to react with a punch and she goes to the ground for treatment.
19' Another corner for Nigeria but Oshoala's header goes off target for a goal kick to Bayana Bayana.
17' Ajibade makes a menacing run down the right as her final pass was intercepted by a defender for a corner.
17' Excellent build up from Okoronkwo who finds Ngozi Okobi but she could not keep her shot down from outside the 18 area as the ball goes way off target.
15' The South Africans are not giving the Nigerians time and space in the game which has affected the attacking trio of Oshoala, Ajibade and Ordega.
13' Another long range shot from Ndimeni but saved over the bar by the Nigerian keeper for a corner. Corner taken but Nigeria wins the goal kick.
12' A free kick to South Africa in a dangerous position but the chance was wasted as Nigeria win a goal kick.
10' A long range attempt on goal by South Africa by it did not trouble the Nigeria goalkeeper. The girls in yellow and green have dominated proceedings so far.
7' Corner for Bayana Bayana, a short one taken and Rasheedat Ajibade comes back to defend as Ordega wins a free kick to give the Super Falcons the advantage.
5' It's been a tussle of who wins the midfield between both sides as possession have been won and lost in the crowded area.
3' Francisca Ordega steals a ball in midfield which falls kindly to Asisat Oshoala but her weak effort did not trouble the keeper.
1' The match gets underway as South Africa are playing from right to left and they quickly make their first shot on goal which is easily collected by the Nigerian goalkeeper.
- Super Falcons and South African set to play title deciding match at AWCON 2018
- Bayana Bayana had won their Group B match against their Nigeria counterparts
- Asisat Oshoala and Thembia Kgatlana will be the stars to watch in the historic final
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will square up against the Bayana Bayana of South Africa in the final of the AWCON 2018 tournament in Ghana.
South Africa had earlier got the better of Nigeria by 1-0 in the opening match of Group B and the eight-time champions will be looking to make a win count in the final.
Two of the previous wins that led to the Super Falcons lifting the trophy have come at the expense of the Bayana Bayana - the last was in the 2000 edition of the tournament.
Nigeria have won eight of the out of the ten editions of the African Women's Championships and are aiming for a ninth title for the 11th time asking.
Both Nigeria and South Africa have qualified for the FIFA Women's World cup in France and Cameroon picked up the last slot after defeat Mali in the third/fourth playoffs.
Asisat Oshoala and Thembi Kgatlana are the stars to watch on both sides and the duo were recently nominated for the Africa'Women's Player of the Year award by CAF.
PAY ATTENTION:
The match will be played at the Accra Stadium in Ghana as the race for who to become Africa women's champion will be decided.
Match: Nigeria vs South Africa (AWCON 2018 final)
Time: 5pm (Nigerian time)
Date: Saturday, December 1
Venue: Accra Stadium
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Source: legit.ng