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Eagles, Lions set to battle African Nations Cup final pits Nigeria against Cameroon
Posted: Thursday February 10, 2000 11:52 PM
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- Tijana Babangida scored two spectacular first-half goals to steer Nigeria into the final of the African Nations Cup with a 2-0 victory against South Africa on Thursday. Driven on by a supercharged atmosphere at the Surulere Stadium, Nigeria's defense held off second-half pressure from the 1996 African champion to move a big step closer to a third continental title of its own. Babangida got the Super Eagles off to a perfect start with a second-minute strike that sent the 42,000 partisan fans into delight. There seemed little danger when South Africa lost possession near the halfway line, but the Ajax winger darted in from the left and unleashed a superb right-footed shot from 20 meters past Andre Arendse. South Africa's rearguard, so impressive in the quarterfinal triumph against Ghana, was rocked. In the 16th minute Babangida threaded a diagonal ball behind the visitor's defense leaving Andre Arendse to make a brave block at the feet of Chukwu Ndukwe. But Bafana Bafana had no answer in the 34th-minute when Babangida completed a glorious Nigerian passing move with a first time right-footed shot that beat Arendse's despairing dive. Nigeria, unbeaten in the African Nations Cup since 1992, was in sublime form, with African player of the year Nwankwo Kanu shaking off Dumisa Ngobe's close marking to keep the Super Eagles ticking. With South Africa seeing its cup hopes slipping away, Siyabonga Nomvete looked to emulate Babangida with a determined run down the left but Ike Sharunmu held on at the second attempt. Nigeria continued to trouble South Africa on the counterattack and Finidi George shaved the crossbar with a dangerous long-range shot in the 73rd minute. Julius Aghahowa, who has scored three African Cup goals in two matches as a substitute, came on again in the 68th minute and immediately went on a darting run that ended with George missing a golden opportunity to put the result beyond doubt. The sour relations between the teams, playing for only the third time, added to the explosive atmosphere. South Africa was riled by claims from Nigerian players and fans that the Super Eagles would have stopped South Africa's march to the 1996 title. Nigeria declined to defend its title in South Africa that year because of a political dispute between the two countries. Lineups: Nigeria: Ike Sharunmu; Celestine Babayaro, Godwin Okpara, Furo Iyenemi, Taribo West; Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, Tijana Babangida (Victr Ikpeba, 74th), Sunday Oliseh; Nwankwo Kanu, Chukwu Ndukwe (Julius Aghahowa, 68th). South Africa: Andre Arendse; Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, Pierre Issa; Quinton Fortune (Steve Lekoelea, 76th), Dumisa Ngobe, Siyabonga Nomvete (Pollen Ndhlamya, 78th), Thabo Mugomeni (Alex Bapela, 46th), Helman Mkhalele; John Moshoeu, Shaun Bartlett.
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