Super Eagles of Nigeria have defeated the Black Antelopes of Angola 1-0 to qualify for the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ademola Lookman remains the Friday of the Super Eagles again with another goal, thereby preventing the mush anticipated shine from Victor Osimhen by following his brace in the 2-0 defeat of Cameroon in the last 16 by breaking the deadlock four minutes before half-time at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
It was victory for the Super Eagles before a 18,757 crowd in Abidjan with Osimhen been disallowed after the VAR ruled him to be offside.
The Napoli superstar, Africa’s reigning footballer of the year, remains stuck on just one goal at this AFCON, but Nigeria’s success has been built around an impressive defence that has now kept four consecutive clean sheets.
The three-time continental champions now advances to the Semis’s next Wednesday against Cape Verde or South Africa who will be meeting in their quarter-finals on Saturday in the central Ivorian city of Bouake.
Goal keeper Stanley Nwabili saved Nigeria from an early goal inside the 4’minutes mark when Mabululu near post attempt was prevented from entering the net after a corner kick.
Osimhen tried his luck twice from headers but it was Lookman, the Atalanta forward and former England Under-21 international, who broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.
Moses Simon collected a pass on the left, accelerated away from Kialonda Gaspar and drove into the area before cutting the ball back for Lookman to finish emphatically.
Nigeria continued to create chances after the break, but Angola did pass up a glorious opportunity to draw level just before the hour mark.
AEK Athens striker Zini, on as a half-time substitute, was sent through on goal and his effort beat Nwabili, only to rebound back off the far post.
It was a major let-off for Nigeria, who then thought they had killed the game off when Osimhen rose to head home a Lookman free-kick with quarter of an hour left, the ball going in despite the Angolan goalkeeper getting a touch.
However, the effort was disallowed to the frustration of Osimhen, who carried on until the final moments despite taking a succession of knocks and being carried to the side of the pitch on a stretcher at one point.
After a commanding performance against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be back in action on Friday against the Black Antelopes of Angola for a place in the semi-final of the AFCON.
Though Nigeria’s performance in the group stage left a lot more to be desired, the Super Eagles stepped up against Cameroon in what was a convincing performance that ignited hopes that the team could go ahead and claim their fourth AFCON crown in Cote D’Ivoire.
Angola, on the other hand, have been stellar in the ongoing competition, finishing first in their group and
making light work of Namibia in the Round of 16.
The match promises to be an interesting one given how determined both teams are to win the AFCON title, and especially given their peculiar head-to-head records.
Nigeria XI vs Angola: Stanley Nwabali, Calvin Bassey, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Zaidu Sanusi, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen
90′ 7 minutes added time
88′ Nwabali punches out a dangerous cross as Angola search for an equaliser.
86′ SUBSTITUTION: Frank Onyeka comes off, Joe Aribo takes his place.
79′ SUBSTITUTION: Alhassan Yusuf comes on for Alex Iwobi
78′ Proceedings resume
75′ COOLING BREAK
VAR CHECK: Goal overruled. Nigeria 1-0 Angola.
73′ GOAL!!! Osimhen with the second goal for Nigeria.
72′ FREEKICK: Nigeria takes the freekick but ends in an infringement against Nigeria.
71′ Osimhen brought down in the half of the Angolans. Freekick for Nigeria.
68′ Angola with a long-range shot but goes high above the crossbar.
63′ FREEKICK: Zaidu Sanusi takes it but Dominique saves comfortably.
58′ Angola with a one-on-one chance to level the score for the Angola but the shot comes off the crossbar.
48′ Angola with a chance in the box of the Super Eagles but Semi Ajayi deftly smothers for safety for Nigeria.
45′ Proceedings resume as the second half gets underway
HT: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
42′ Angola with a chance to level but their attempt is intercepted by Troost-Ekong in defence for the Super Eagles.
41′ GOAL!!! Lookman opens the scoring for the Super Eagles
39′ Onyeka clears the ball for a corner for the Black Antelopes.
37′ Angola with a corner that goes out for a goal kick.
35′ Ola Aina with a long throw that Osimhen connects to but his header bounces off across the face of goal.
34′ Proceedings resume with the two teams attempting to break the deadlock
29′ COOLING BREAK
27′ Deivi Veira with a fine chance for a shot in the box of the Super Eagles but his efforts goes very wide.
23′ Osimhen with a fine header that is parried by Signori Dominique in goal for Angola
14′ Victor Osimhen with a header that hits the roof of the net
10′ Lookman with an in-swinger off a free-kick from close range, cleared for safety by the Angolans
7′ Ademola Lookman with a cross that causes chaos in the defence of the Angolans but the scramble sees the ball cleared away from danger.
5′ Alex Iwobi with a diagonal cross into the box, dealt comfortably by the Angolan defence.
3′ Cristovavio Pacienca with an attempt saved by Stanley Nwabali in goal for the Super Eagles.
1′ The match is underway with Nigeria launching an early attack into the box of the Angolans.
