
Alozie goal gives Nigeria 2-1 win over South Africa in Women's Africa Cup of Nations semifinals
Nigeria will play the winner of the late match in Rabat between host Morocco and Ghana for the title on Saturday.
The Super Falcons have won nine WAFCON titles. Disappointed by their fourth-place finish in the 2022 tournament, the Super Falcons dubbed their goal to win this event as 'Mission X.'
Alozie, who plays in the National Women's Soccer League for the Houston Dash, sent the ball forward from distance four minutes into stoppage time. Although two teammates were in front South Africa's net, neither of them touched the ball as it bounced into the goal.
Rasheedat Ajibade, who plays for Atlético Madrid, converted a penalty just before halftime to put Nigeria ahead 1-0. The Super Falcons were awarded the penalty because of a handball in the box.
South Africa, the defending WAFCON champions, pulled even on Linda Motlhalo's penalty in the 60th minute.
Nigeria, which had not previously conceded a goal in the tournament, routed Zambia 5-0 in the quarterfinals to advance. South Africa, led by coach Desiree Ellis, advanced on penalties after a scoreless draw with Senegal.
There was a scary moment in the 84th minute when South Africa midfielder Gabriela Salgado went down with an injury and players from both teams frantically gestured for help.
Salgado was stretchered off with her left leg heavily wrapped as her teammates sobbed. The crowd at Stade Larbi Zaouli chanted her name.
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