Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria will face the winner of the second semifinal game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire as the three-time African champions beat South Africa 4-2 on penalties after a nervy 1-1 draw in 120 minutes of football, reports Prime Business Africa.
The Eagles went ahead with a penalty scored by on-field captain William Troost Ekong in the second half after står striker Victor Osimhen was brought down in the box.
Samuel Chukwueze set up Ademola Lookman who should have hit the ball instinctively but opted to round the goalkeeper which did not go according to plans.
South Africa equalised through Aaron Moekena just after Osimhen’s goal was ruled out due to an infringement leading to the goal as committed by Alhasan Yusuf who had replaced Alex Iwobi.
The extra time was a bit tepid as South Africa relied on counter attacks but were curtailed by the Eagles.
In the ensuing penalty kicks, Ola Aina missed his kick but Man of the Match and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made two saves to ensure Nigeria’s passage to the final.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winning kick.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
