Nigeria are through to the semifinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Angola 2-1 inside the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Friday night, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ademola Lookman scored the only goal for the Super Eagles as Nigeria made it past the quarterfinals stage of the AFCON for the first time since 2019.
How it happened
After passing a late fitness test, Stanley Nwabali returned to goal for Nigeria as coach Jose Peseiro retained the starting lineup that cruised past Cameroon in the Round of 16.
Nigeria had a good feel of the ball in the early stages, but the game’s first chance fell to the Angolans.
From a corner kick, the ball fell kindly to captain Fredy, but his poke home was blocked expertly by goalkeeper Nwabali.
Moments later, Victor Osimhen, looking for his first goal since matchday one, had his header claimed easily by Angola’s goalkeeper.
Despite not getting out of first gear, Nigeria were on the ascendancy, and in the 40th minute, the Super Eagles broke the deadlock through Lookman.
Zaidu Sanusi picked out Moses Simon’s run on the left flank. The Nantes man danced past his marker before setting up Lookman, who made no mistake from seven yards out.
The goal placed Lookman into the record books as the fourth Nigerian to score three or more goals in the knockout rounds of a single AFCON edition, after Odion Ighalo in 2019 (4), Jay-Jay Okocha in 2004 (3) and Rashidi Yekini in 1994 (3).
Just before halftime, Nigeria could have doubled their lead, but Sanusi failed to find Osimhen when he was well-placed.
The second half started with the Super Eagles on the high, but Sanusi and Iwobi fired wide in succession from good positions in and around the box.
As the game approached the hour mark, Bassey headed just wide after a little mixup with Osimhen before the best chance of the match fell to Angola.
Zini beat the offside trap and rolled the ball past goalkeeper Nwabali, but the ball struck the post, and Troost-Ekong cleared to safety as Nigeria heaved a sigh of relief.
The chances continued to open up for the Super Eagles, and moments after Simon had his shot blocked after an excellent mazy run, Sanusi aimed a freekick for the top corner, only for goalkeeper Antonio Signori to make a fine save.
In the 77th minute, Nigeria celebrated a second goal after Osimhen nodded home a freekick but VAR ruled it off correctly for offside.
Both teams chances had chances to change the scoreline but Nigeria were the happier side when the referee blew the final whistle.
What next?
The Super Eagles have progressed to the semifinals where they will meet the winner of the quarterfinal fixture between Cape Verde and South Africa.
