Among Nigerians, it was thought that no one dared to fathom waking from bed early on Wednesday, they just weren’t brave enough for it. The thought of their men’s national football team, the Super Eagles losing in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) semi-final match to South Africa rivals the Bafana Bafana was a memory they would never be able to bear and that was what led to an extremely tense penalty shootout that saw Nigeria coming out trumps.

The Super Eagles’ progression to Sunday, 11 February-set final with Afcon host Ivory Coast will happen thanks to the fortunate debut of the forward, Kelechi Ihenacho at the competition. Having spent all his time at the tournament on the bench, it felt glorious that it was the Leicester City F.C striker who had the last kick that wrapped up a round of spot-kicks that yielded 4-2.

Before the game entered extra time, a remarkably weird moment in the 85th minute had got Super Eagles and the entire sporting world wondering about referee Amin Omar’s decision to overturn Bright Osayi-Samuel’s perfectly worked low cross to Victor Osimhen in Bafana Bafana’s goal box which the Napoli F.C striker glued into the net.

With the triumph over South Africa now stamped, now, it means that Nigeria can tilt the bragging rights scale to its side in support of the long-preached narration of being Giant of Africa.

ALSO READ: Super Eagles fans advised not to over-celebrate in case Nigeria beats South Africa this Wednesday

Against the Bafana Bafana on Wednesday evening, the Super Eagles had the burden of proving a point for their fans. Three days before the 6 p.m.-timed match, it was the Grammys Award in Downtown Los Angeles in the United States that had left most Nigerians feeling jilted because none of their musicians was given a plaque.

Instead,  it was the 22-year-old South African Tyla pitched against Burna Boy, Davido, Arya Starr, and Asake that won the Best African Performance category, therefore sending jitters across social media from the Nigerian side.

In the event the Super Eagles had lost to the Bafana Bafana whose team selections were mostly from the South African Premier League, some fans had planned their social media exile with the way they envision their grief, which could last for weeks. This is a testament to what truly was at stake.

And so it goes. From all walks of life in Nigerian society, the people are pouring their hearts out. Heading off to the X platform, it feels like the whole of Nigeria is lining down there. From the politicians’ alley down to the steady on-the-grind Nigerian worker, the tweets have been loud to mirror the excitement of victory.

Today was yet another victorious outing for Nigeria as our National Team, the Super Eagles displayed great fighting spirit, beating the Bafana Bafana of South Africa to take Nigeria to the finals in the ongoing AFCON games, writes Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate in the 2023 General Elections.

Today was yet another victorious outing for Nigeria as our National Team, the Super Eagles displayed great fighting spirit, beating the Bafana Bafana of South Africa to take Nigeria to the finals in the ongoing AFCON games.

— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) February 7, 2024

And of course, the Presidency of Nigeria has tweeted too saying all the wishes of the country.

There was assured support coming from the tweet which reads, Congratulations to our very own and that the entire nation is standing behind you in the AFCON Finals.

President Bola Tinubu expectedly caught on with the triumphant emotion his country was feeling. After two weeks away on a private trip to Paris, such positivity as a Super Eagles progress to the final is no doubt inspiring as he gets back to work.

From Mr Tinubu’s personal X profile then came the tweet, From the Southernmost cape of Africa to the Plains of Mauritania and the coast of West Africa….

You have made us all Proud to be Nigerians!

From the Southernmost cape of Africa to the Plains of Mauritania and the coast of West Africa….
You have made us all Proud to be Nigerians!

Go… Soar in the AFCON Finals

Well done, boys! pic.twitter.com/FoCUfUAWVp

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) February 7, 2024

Going into the match, there was noticeable tension that led the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria to issue an advisory cautioning Nigerians living in South Africa against provoking their host.

The advisory, although South Africa’s foreign affairs ministry disagrees with it, is because there had been a history of xenophobia between both the first and second largest economies on the African continent, the former being Nigeria.

Citizens of Nigeria have been subjected to xenophobic attacks while living as residents in South Africa which led to both countries having consultations through their presidents.

In a profile, Vivadido’s reply to Mr Obi’s congratulatory tweet, there is a feeling that any rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa should be for sports.

The clash between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana was more than a game; it embodied historical tensions between our nations.

As the Super Eagles triumphed, it’s a moment for celebration, unity, and respect. Let us rise above derogatory remarks and embrace fair play.

Congrats to the Super Eagles, and let sportsmanship guide us all.

That sort of friendly vibe also chimes with what South Africa is feeling. Even though they are now out of Afcon, the country acknowledged, quite positively, Nigeria’s victory against them.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.