Nigeria – Angola : Super Eagles Fly To Semis

Nigeria edged past a determined Angolan side 1-0 on Friday February 2, 2024 at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan to book the first place in the 2023 AFCON semi-finals. Ademola Lookman's first-half strike proved the difference, sending the Super Eagles soaring and leaving the Palancas Negras’ giant-killing run just short of the final four.
Nigeria started strong. It was Moses Simon who provided the magic, setting up Lookman for a clinical finish just before halftime. The 26-year-old’s 41st-minute strike was enough to set up a semi-finals meeting for the Nigerians. Lookman who plays for Atalanta BC in Italy is thus in red-hot form, scoring his third goal in the knockout out phase of this tournament. His decisive finish keeps his side's dream of a fourth AFCON title alive.
Angola came close to an equalizer after the break but could only hit the post. Osimhen thought he had doubled the lead, but his header was ruled out for offside. The Napoli striker is therefore still without a goal since Nigeria's opening 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea. The final minutes of the game against Angola were tense, with Nigeria holding on for a hard-fought victory.
Despite boasting attacking talents like Osimhen, it was Nigeria's defense that stood tall. They kept a clean sheet for the fourth game in a row, showcasing their solidity and tactical awareness. A feat probably gotten from the fact that the team has the capacity of ...