Nigeria defeat Angola to reach 2023 AFCON semi-final
Nigeria defeated Angola 1-0 in the quater-final to reach the semi-final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). SportsRation reports.
Ademola Lookman scored the match-winner in the 41st minute to hand the Super Eagles a spot in the last-4 after another win, their fourth in five games at the tournament.
For the opening goal, Moses Simon skipped past a defender down the left, ran into the box, before serving Ademola Lookman with a pass to fire home what turned out to be the winning goal.
Before the Eagles went ahead, Angola were denied a chance by Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali who was alert to push away a glancing header by Mabululu in the fourth minute.
Reigning CAF player of the year Victor Osimhen then had two attempts but was unlucky not to find the net.
The Nigerian team continued to pile pressure and got due reward when Ademola Lookman scored his third goal of the tournament in the 41st minute.
That goal handed Jose Peseiro tutored Eagles a 1-0 lead at half-time.
In the second half, Osimhen had the ball in the net just before the final quater.
Victor Osimhen connected a free-kick with a powerful header which beat the Angolan goalkeeper but that will not count after a VAR review confirmed the Napoli forward scored from an offside position.
After a gruelling encounter, it was Nigeria who did just enough to defeat Angola 1-0 and book a spot in the semi-final.
While Angola’s dream of reaching the AFCON semi-final for the first time fell flat, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will face either South Africa or Cape Verde in the next round.
