February 2024
Moses Simon in action against Angola. CREDIT: Getty Images.
By
Olaniyi Apanpa
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The Super Eagles have qualified for their 16th AFCON semifinals. Ademola Lookman was the difference in Abidjan as Angola’s journey at the tournament comes to an end.
In the last four, the Eagles will play the winner of Saturday’s clash between South Africa and Cape Verde.
FINAL WHISTLE!
Seconds into the final whistle.
90+4 Osimhen is off for Paul Onuachu.
90+2 We are into seven additional minutes
86′ Four minutes before the end of regulation time. Nigeria leads by an Ademola Lookman goal in the first half.
85′ Another sub for Nigeria. Frank Onyeka is off for Joe Aribo
81′ So close to 2-0! Lookman dallies freeing Osimhen on the counter and the striker does so well to keep the chance alive but is eventually blocked.
79′ Nigeria makes their first change. Alhassan Yusuf comes in for Alex Iwobi
75′ Oh wait, we’re headed for VAR! Osimhen is marginally offside. It won’t count.
GOOAAAAAAAL!!!!!! Osimhen scores!!!!!!
73′ Another yellow card for Angola.
71′ Yellow card for Kialonda Gaspar for a challenge on Osimhen.
70′ Nigeria defending too deep now.
66′ Two changes for Angola. Bruno Paz replacing Fredy and Zito Luvumbo is in for Gilberto
61′ Moses Simon beats two men on the left but couldn’t get his curler in.
59′ OFF THE POST! Paciência slipped in behind but could only hit the post. Nigeria clear and then deal with the resulting corner well.
57 ‘ Osimhen attempts an overhead kick following a spot of head tennis after a corner but Angola clear.
54′ Bassey challenges Mbalulu down the left, the referee awards a free kick for Angola. Bassey picks the game’s first yellow card.
51′ Simon’s cutback is just not quite enough for Osimhen to latch onto.
50′ Osimhen suffers a knock. He’s been attended to by the medics. He’s back on the pitch though.
48′ Nigeria still coming forward. Zaidu Sanusi gets in a strike, it misses the target, however.
46′ SECOND HALF starts.
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HALF TIME!!! Nigeria leads Angola 1-0 in Abidjan thanks to an Ademola Lookman sublime finish.
45′ Three minutes have been added as additional time.
41′ Moses Simon beats his man on the left. Perfectly lays it for Ademola Lookman who wasted no time scoring. Nigeria leads 1-0.
GOOOOAAAAAAAAAL!!!! Nigeria scores
36′ Aina’s dangerous throw-in from the right troubles the Angolan defence but Osimhen could only direct his header wide.
35′ We are back again. The Eagles still finding it hard to break the resolute defence of the Angolans.
COOLING BREAK! We are into half an hour mark. Still goalless in Abidjan.
23′ An inch-perfect cross from Simon on the right to Osimhen but the Angolan goalkeeper calmly picks the resulting header.
17′ Aina shackled down for a free kick to Nigeria.
16′ Super Eagles gradually finding their rhythm. Osimhen earlier had his dumping header over the post.
08′ Lookman crowded out when having a shot after a nice cross from Simon.
07′ Iwobi whips in a cross to find Osimhen but the Angolan defender clears it for a corner kick.
04’ Fantastic safe by Nwabali to deny Mabululu at point blank. The Angolans starting to turn on the heat early in the game.
KICK OFF! Nigeria gets us underway
Hello and welcome to PUNCH Online’s coverage of this all-important African Cup of Nations quarter-final game between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Angola’s Palancas Negras from the Felix Houphouet -Biogny, Abidjan Cote’de’Ivoire.
In the other round, the Eagles, chasing a fourth championship, beat five-time champions, Cameroon while Pedro Soares Goncalves’ side who have already set their best group stage record, went a step further beating Namibia 3-0.
TEAM NEWS: Goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali who picked up an injury against Cameroon starts in goal. Two-goal hero on Saturday, Ademola Lookman, joins African best footballer, Victor Osimhen upfront as coach Jose Peseiro named an unchanged lineup.
NIGERIA XI: Stanley Nwabali, Troost Ekong (captain), Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Victor Osimhen
For Angola, First-choice goalkeeper Neblu who saw red in the last game has been replaced by Signori Antonio in the line-up. Gelson Dala and Mabululu, who have both combined for seven of the nine goals netted by the Palancas Negras start tonight
ANGOLA XI: Antonio Signori, Jonathan Buatu, Kialonda Gaspar, A. To Carneiro, Eddie Afonso, Fredy, Estrela, Show, Gilberto, Gelson Dala, A. Mabulul
The game kicks off at 6 pm.
