Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama made three saves in a penalty shootout to help Nigeria eliminate defending champions Tunisia in their African Nations Cup quarter-final this afternoon. Nigeria won 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 deadlock after extra time.
Enyeama stopped efforts from Tunisia captain Riadh Bouazizi, Adel Chedli and Slim Benchaour during the shootout. He also saved a penalty early in the first half of the match.
Nigeria had squandered two of their first three penalties in a shootout that went to eight kicks apiece. A reluctant Nwankwo Kanu had to be persuaded to step forward by a screaming captain Joseph Yobo and his bench before scoring what proved the decisive goal for Nigeria.
The Super Eagles had taken a fifth-minute lead through teenaged striker Obinna Nsofor, making his first start for the Super Eagles.
But a determined Tunisia fought back to equalise just after halftime through defender Karim Hagui, who stole in behind the defence to head home.
Italian-based striker Nsofor, at 18 one of the youngest players at the tournament, scored his first international goal in emphatic style with a forceful shot from just inside the penalty area.
A trip by Joseph Enakarhire on Zied Jaziri allowed Tunisia a chance to equalise nine minutes later Enyeama saved the penalty from Brazil-born full back Clayton.
Hagui's equaliser three minutes into the second half came as the result of a quickly taken free kick expertly delivered by Bouazizi that found the Racing Strasbourg defender sneaking in behind the defence at the back post to steer his header home.
Although Nigeria tired noticeably in the second half, they still had chances to retake the lead, notably when Nsofor went narrowly wide in the 67th minute after an astute pass from John Obi Mikel sent him goal side of the Tunisian defence.
Obi Mikel, winning only his fourth cap but looking assured on the ball, had two extra-time chances from the edge of the area but sent one wide and the other straight at Tunisia goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel.
The win means Nigeria have now reached the semi-finals at four successive Nations Cup tournaments. At the finals two years ago, Tunisia beat Nigeria on post-match penalties after a 1-1 semi-final draw.
Tunisia's elimination means four of Africa's five representatives at the World Cup finals in Germany later this year have exited the Nations Cup tournament.
The fifth, Ivory Coast, play their quarter-final later today against Cameroon at Cairo's Military stadium.
