Nigeria beat Algeria 2-1 in Dakar to win the Under 23 Africa Cup of Nations as South Africa took the remaining Olympic spot with a 3-1 penalties win over hosts Senegal in the third place play-off match.<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper Jody February proved to be South Africa’s hero with three saves during the shootout and a penalty save in the regulation 90 minutes which had ended 0-0.<\/p>\n
Phakamani Mahlambi hit the winning spot-kick to send South Africa’s men to the Rio Games.<\/p>\n
It is the first time that both the South Africa men’s and women’s football teams have qualified for an Olympics.<\/p>\n
In a rare instance of a third-place play-off match carrying more importance than the final itself, it was the hosts Senegal who had the best chance in the game to seal victory when they were awarded a penalty in the 73rd minute.<\/p>\n
Moussa Wague’s effort was saved by the outstanding February who then played a starring role in the ensuing shootout, saving three spot-kicks .
\nSouth Africa’s men join the newly crowned Under 23 Africa Cup of Nations champions Nigeria and runners-up Algeria, at Rio 2016.
\nNigeria took the lead in the final against Algeria thanks to a 14th minute penalty from captain Peter Etebo.<\/p>\n
Just 16 minutes later, Algeria were level when Oduduwa Segun Tope scored an own-goal.<\/p>\n
In a frenetic first half, Nigeria took what proved to be a decisive lead, as Etebo again struck – this time in open play – to put Nigeria 2-1 up.<\/p>\n
Algeria missed a key opportunity to draw level in the second half.
\nUSM Alger’s Zinedine Ferhat had a penalty saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Daniel Emmanuel in the 68th minute.<\/p>\n
Nigeria held on to win 2-1 to lift the trophy and take their place in Rio as African champions.<\/p>\n
Nigeria boast a proud Olympics record. They made Olympic football history in 1996 by becoming the first African and non-European and South American team to win the gold medal.<\/p>\n
They also finished runners-up at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where current under-23 coach Siasia also coached the ‘Dream Team’ in China.<\/p>\n
However, the so-called ‘Dream Team V’ led by Austin Eguavoen failed to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics after crashing out in the group stages of the 2011 U-23 championship in Morocco.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nigeria beat Algeria 2-1 in Dakar to win the Under 23 Africa Cup of Nations as South Africa took the remaining Olympic spot with a 3-1 penalties win over hosts Senegal in the third place play-off match. Goalkeeper Jody February proved to be South Africa’s hero with three saves during the shootout and a penalty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":174053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[29,3],"yoast_head":"\n