Football News Update: Nigeria Secure Spot in Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Finals
Nigeria 1-0 Angola
In a keenly contested quarter-final clash at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Nigeria’s forward Ademola Lookman scored the only goal to guide the Super Eagles to a 1-0 victory over Angola and book their place in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.
The Atalanta winger struck four minutes before half-time, tapping in Moses Simon’s cross to secure Nigeria’s progression to the last four of the tournament. The win sees the three-time champions maintain their unbeaten run, having now won four successive Africa Cup of Nations matches without conceding a goal.
“The highest-ranked nation remaining in the competition, Nigeria demonstrated their ability to handle the favourites tag with a hard-earned victory.”
Bidding to reach their first-ever semi-final, Angola made a bright start to the game and were denied an early opener when Stanley Nwabali kept out Mabululu’s close-range volley. However, it was Nigeria who took the lead in the 41st minute, with Lookman capitalizing on Simon’s neat work to fire the ball into the roof of the net.
Angola came close to leveling the scores just before the hour mark, but Zine’s first-time shot bounced back off the post after he had latched onto Show’s through ball. Despite VAR denying Victor Osimhen’s headed effort, the Super Eagles were able to hold on and secure their passage into the semi-finals.
Dangerous going forward with Lookman, Simon and Osimhen, the Super Eagles also produced yet another solid defensive performance, having now kept four clean sheets in a row.
Champions in 1980, 1994 and 2013, Jose Peseiro’s side will now face either Cape Verde or South Africa in the semi-finals as they look to secure their fourth Africa Cup of Nations title.
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