AFCON 2020 Match 9: South Africa Off to Best AFCON Start with Win Over Nigeria

AFCON 2020 Match 9: South Africa v Nigeria

South Africa Off to Best AFCON Start with Win Over Nigeria

June 17, 2020

South Africa 3 Nigeria 1

 

South Africa scored three goals to one to defeat Nigeria in their opening AFCON 2020 match.

 

The grandest match of the group stages was set from the outset to be an epic battle.

 

Nigeria had the first real attempt in the tenth minute, with Alex Iwobi’s shot going straight to South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

 

Jamilu Collins was next in line to shoot, only the South African defence to block the shot.

 

Nigeria had the bulk of possession, though it was the South Africans who looked the better defensively. It was not until right before the break when Nigeria had another shot; Ahmed Musa missed to the left of goal.

 

South Africa immediately countered and won a penalty when the ball hit the hand of Collins as he strode to cut off a pass into the box. Lebo Mothiba smacked the penalty kick straight and gave the South Africans the lead.

 

After the break, Nigeria attacked in desperation to equalise. Musa won a header in the box, passing the ball backwards to substitute Moses Simon, only for his header to fly to the left of goal.

 

Instead, Mothiba scored in the 68th minute with his head when the ball was crossed from the right wing, after constant pressure was placed on the Nigerian defence.

 

In the 75th minute, Nigeria pegged a goal back; this time, Simon’s header was on target as he rose between two defenders to ruffle the back of the net.

 

In the final tense minutes, Dean Furman cut a long through ball to Mothiba, only for Daniel Akpeyi to make the save.

 

Mothiba had another attempt In the 86th minute with his head but it fell straight to Akpeyi’s hands.

 

Two minutes later, Mothiba’s shot was saved, only for substitute Athenkosi Dlala to fire into the open goal, thus ending the game in favour of South Africa.

 

Nigeria will feel hard done by with the penalty, but South Africa fully deserved the three points, and will seek to guarantee progression to the Round of 16 in their next match.

 

Important aspects of the match:

 

Mothiba’s penalty in the 45th minute.

Mothiba’s goal in the 68th minute.

Simon’s goal in the 75th minute.

Substitute Dlala’s goal in the 88th minute.

 

South Africa’s five shots on target compared with three.

Equal tackle count and passing accuracy.

 

South Africa’s best afield: Mothiba with his two goals and two other shots on target; captain Thulani Hlatshwayo with four key intercepts, a clearance and a block; Furman with most passes and dribbles overall; Bongani Zungu at right midfield with his assist and multiple crosses.

 

Nigeria’s best afield: Simon coming on at halftime and scoring; Samuel Chukwueze with the goal assist and equal most passes for Nigeria, as well as equal most tackles overall; Iwobi with most dribbles for Nigeria.

Joe Aribo with equal most passes for Nigeria.

Musa and Onyinye Ndidi with equal most tackles overall.

William Troost-Ekong with four key clearances and two intercepts.

Kenneth Omewuo with three key intercepts, a clearance and a block.

Nigeria might need to start Ighalo on the bench, as he went off at halftime.

Reviews

[Spamalot]

I know you're trying to write like a journalist, but this reads like the report of a year 8 student. You need to the skills of the journalist.

You can't write like a one unless you study journalistic writing. So hit the library. Anyone interested in the game you comment on will already have read the stories, and articles on the games, so you need to have a lot more excitement in the way you write.

Look at "Jamilu Collins was next in line to shoot, only the South African defence to block the shot." Any English teacher would give this a black mark. Why didn't you edit the piece before posting?