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It took 120 minutes and five penalties for Nigeria to qualify for the Semi finals at the expense of a Zambian team that has itself to blame for not ending it at regulation time.
With no goals to show for the match at the end of extra time, the Nigerians converted their five penalties while Nyirenda Nyirenda had his attempt, the fourth Zambian kick, saved by Vincent Enyeama in the Nigerian goal.
In a quarter final encounter that only came alive at extra time when the Zambians took control of the match subjecting the favourites to anxious moments, it soon became evident that the Zambians will rue their misses as poor marksmanship in front of goal rubbed them of numerous scoring opportunities.
Forty five minutes on, there was nothing to choose between the two teams as they lacked adventure, concentrating play in the middle.
In the 9th minute, Zambia broke the pattern and launched an offensive that was cleared for a corner. The Nigerians replied in the 15th minute when an Etuhu shot was stopped by goalkeeper Mweene Kennedy of Zambia.
The Nigerians returned in the 24th minute this time through Chinedu Obasi, but his goal attempt was cleared to safety by Musonda Joseph. In the 30th minute it was the turn of Mikel Obi to test the Zambian goalkeeper, but Mweene was equal to the task.
The second half started in the same tempo as the first, this time with the Zambians growing in confidence and subjecting the Nigerians to a wave of attacks but poor shootings in front of goal by Chamanga James, Katongo Felix and Muelenga Jacob was the undoing of the South Africans.In the 54th, 55th,and 56th minutes the Zambians could not convert consecutive corners as the Nigerian defence panicked again and again. It was in extra time that the Chipolopolo took complete control of the match, while sporadic attacks by Osaze Odemnwigie, Mikel Obi and Chinedu Obasi ended prematurely in the wall of defence mounted by Himonde Hichani, Sunzu Stopilla and Mbola Emmanuel.
Nigeria’s case was aggravated in the 107th minute when Onyekachi Apam was given the marching orders fior a second bookable offence.
With the Zambians unable to capitalise on their numerical superiority, the match had to be decided by penalty shoot out.
While Mikel Obi, Obafemi Martins, Obinna Nsofor, Osaze Odemnwigie and Vincent Enyeamah converted for Nigeria, Sikombe,Katongo,Mayuka and goalkeeper Kennedy saw their kicks come to nothing as Nyirenda lost from the spot.
Nigeria will now face the Black Stars of Ghana in the first semi final of the competition.
Source: CAF
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