OWN CORRESPONDENT, Lagos | Tuesday 9.35am.
TEENAGER Julius Aghahowa was the two-goal hero as title favourites Nigeria overcame outsiders Senegal 2-1 after extra time on Monday in the last African Nations Cup quarter-final.
This sets up Bafana Bafana with a semi-final showdown on Thursday against Nigeria, who refused to defend the cup they lifted the cup in Tunisia six years ago due to political differences with then hosts South Africa. This led to their suspension from the following edition in Burkina Faso.
On Monday night, Senegal successfully defended an early goal from Kalilou Fadiga until the Tunisia-based teenager struck from close range with six minutes left of normal time at Surulere Stadium.
Aghahowa sparked a pitch invasion from home supporters that took 12 minutes to clear when he scored again just 90 seconds into additional time after sloppy defending from the tiring visitors.
Nigeria finished with 10 men when midfielder Augustine “Jay Jay” Okocha was sent off with two minutes of extra time left for elbowing substitute Mbaye Badji and is automatically suspended for one match.
Defending champions Egypt bowed out earlier in the day, losing 1-0 to Tunisia in the northern city of Kano, where Khaled Badra converted a first-half penalty kick to earn a crack at Cameroon in Accra on Thursday. — AFP