The man who took the match winning kick for Nigeria during the penalty shoot out against South Africa in the AFCON semi final Kelechi Iheanacho has revealed why he had to take the kick, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Iheanacho played his first game of the tournament in the semi final and showed no nerves when he took the decisive spot kick that sealed a final spot for the Super Eagles for the first time since 2013.
South Africa forced Nigeria into penalty kicks after both teams stayed tied at 1-1 after extra time. Nigeria however sealed a spot in the final with a 4-3 win with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerging as the hero for the Super Eagles.
After Nwabali has stopped two kicks it was up to the players to make it count and the responsibility to take the decisive spot kick went the way of Iheanacho. He dispatched it authority and afterwards explained why he had to shoulder the responsibility.
” It’s done now and I am telling you it’s a lot of pressure there. That one is a make or break penalty. So you either save us or we lose it. So I thank God for that, God made it possible”, he said at the mixed zone.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
