Nigeria wins Angola 1-0, earns ticket for Semi-Final of AFCON 2023

*To face winner of Cape Verde vs South Africa on February 7

*Okumagba-led Super Eagles Supporters Club acknowledged 

By ABIRHIRE THOMAS…reporting from Abidjan

The Super Eagles of Nigeria, on Friday February 2, 2024 at the 33,000-seat Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan with about 18,787 supporters in attendance, took down the Palancas Negras of Angola in the decisive quarter-final game that ended in 1-0.

A first-half goal from Ademola Lookman secured the spot for Nigeria in a 1-0 win over Angola at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Friday.

The performance against Angola was not identical to the complete domination of Cameroon in the quarter-final, but the Super Eagles did what was needed to push themselves closer to the AFCON trophy.

Jose Peseiro, the Super Eagles head coach, retained his compact 3-4-3 formation with William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, and Calvin Bassey to shield Stanley Nwabali in goal.

Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi started on the right and left flanks as wing-backs, while Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka combo slotted into the midfield.

Victor Osimhen led the attacking line with Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman on either side of his.

The biggest news before the match was Nwabali’s fitness. He was injured during the game against Cameroon, and there is concern about him featuring against Angola.

He passed a late fitness and was called into action a few minutes after the kickoff. Nwabali was alert to stop a close-range tap-in from Mabululu to save Nigeria from an early heartbreak.

It was all Nigeria from then on, and Osimhen was a perpetual aerial threat, forcing Signori Antonio, the Angolan goalkeeper, to early saves.

But in the 41st minute, the deadlock was finally broken. Moses Simon beat Gaspart with pace before setting up a clean cutback for Lookman at the edge of the box. The Atalanta striker dispatched the final shot into the roof of the net to send Nigeria ahead.

The strike was Lookman’s third goal of the tournament.

In the second half, Osimhen thought he had doubled Nigeria’s lead. He headed home from a Simon Moses cross. But the goal is ruled out for offside after VAR review.

Nigeria held on to a nervous lone-goal victory and will play the winners of the match between South Africa and Cape Verde in the semi-final.

-Okumagba-led Super Eagles Supporters Club acknowledged

All thanks to Super Eagles Supporters Club national president Prince Vincent Okumagba, who has been fully represented by his delegation chairman Chigozie Nnadi to mobilize Nigerians and non-Nigerian friends in their area of camping since the start of the AFCON 2023 matchet. Okumagba’s has been responsible for provision of customized Nigeria polo shirts and feeding, transportation – to and from – to the stadium.

According to the delegation Chairman, Chigozie Nnadi, coming to Cote D’Ivoire is not for jamboree but the support is to lift the AFCON 23 cup, which is the main target of his National President, Prince Vincent Okumagba.

Ademola Lookman, in working the way of the supers club dream, put the Super Eagles ahead in the 41st minute after Moses Simon beat Gaspart with pace before setting up a clean cutback.

Victor Osimhen thought he had doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 75th minute. He headed home from a Simon Moses cross but the goal was ruled out for offside after VAR review.

Nigeria will now face the winner of Cape Verde vs. South Africa on February 7th, 2024.