Nigeria beat Angola in the quarter-final (1-0) and will face the winner of Cape Verde-South Africa in the next round.
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We know the first semi-finalist of the African Cup of Nations. And, unsurprisingly, it was Nigeria who punched their ticket for the final four of the competition, Friday February 2, at the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan. Victor Osimhen’s Super Eagles got the better of Angola (1-0), one of the sensations of this edition, thanks to a goal from Ademola Lookman (41st).
Fallers of Cameroon in the previous round, the Super Eagles did not tremble against Angola, sensation of this CAN after extricating themselves from a tough group including Algeria, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. But this time the step was too high for the Angolans, winners of Namibia in the round of 16, but who will not play the first CAN semi-final in their history.
The Super Eagles without mercy
The Palancas Negras (Black Antelopes) however launched hostilities, with a header from Mabululu, saved on the line by Stanley Nwabali (5th). But on the other hand, Nigeria has gradually warmed up. Victor Osimhen first narrowly missed a header (25th), but not Ademola Lookman, on a service from Nantes’ Moses Simon (1-0, 41st). Angola almost equalized straight away, and especially at the hour mark, when Zini’s flat foot hit the post.
Nigeria, which could have doubled the lead earlier on a header from Calvin Bassey (58th), then accelerated again. But Moses Simon erred in the last gesture, while Victor Osimhen was denied the break goal for a slight offside (75th). The Napoli striker, African player of the year, then saw his shot blocked at the last minute by Kialonda Gaspar (82nd). Nothing detrimental for the Super Eagles, winners 1-0 and who will play their sixteenth CAN semi-final. They will face the winner of the Cape Verde-South Africa match on Wednesday (6 p.m.).