Nigeria and Angola Seek AFCON Semi Final Ticket

Today, at 6 p.m. (WAT), the Super Eagles of Nigeria will play the Palancas Negras of Angola, at the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny, in a quarterfinal fixture at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Nigeria’s AFCON campaign began with a challenging 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea. They rebounded with a 1-0 victory over Cote d’Ivoire – this edition’s host – , and then  beat Guinea-Bissau one-nil.. Two goals from Ademola Lookman would be enough to get past Cameroon in the round of 16. 

Contrastively, the Angolans held Algeria, the 2019 champions, to a 1-1 draw in their opening match. They followed it with a  3-2 win over Mauritania, and then a 2-0 victory over Burkina Faso, thus topping their group. Their round of 16 encounter with Namibia proved to be a relatively smooth affair, as a Gelson Dala brace and a goal from Mabululu secured a comfortable 3-0 victory.

While a loss in the AFCON quarterfinals is a rare occurrence for Nigeria, having only happened once in 16 fixtures when they lost narrowly to the host Ghana in 2008, Angola hopes to upset this streak. 

 Angola, riding on an unprecedented streak of three consecutive AFCON wins, seeks to secure a historic fourth triumph, simultaneously earning their first-ever appearance in the semifinals. The stage is set for a clash that promises high stakes and intense competition.

Both teams exhibit a willingness to relinquish possession and thrive on counter-attacks in the ongoing AFCON 2023. Notably, Nigeria (45.0%) and Angola (44.0%) have maintained an average possession lower than their opponents. Adding to the excitement, both teams find themselves among the top four in terms of shots from counter-attacks, with Angola sharing the lead with South Africa at five, closely pursued by Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea at four. The stage is set for a dynamic encounter characterized by strategic counter-plays and pursuit of offensive opportunities.

Head-to-head

When Nigeria, a three-time winner of the tournament, play Angola, it will be their 102nd AFCON fixture. The fixture has a significant backstory, especially for Nigerians: facing Angola at a World Cup qualification game on 12 August 1989, at the National Stadium in Lagos, Samuel Okwaraji, a Nigerian midfielder, collapsed on the pitch in the 77th minute, and then passed away. He had succumbed to high blood pressure-induced congestive heart failure.

The two nations have clashed ten times. Both have each claimed a victory twice, while the other five matches ended in draws. Nigeria thwarted Angola’s qualification for the 1984 and 2004 AFCONs. The Pelancas Negras retaliated by preventing the Super Eagles from qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, creating a riveting rivalry and between the two teams.

Key Players – Angola 

Gelson Dala: 

Gelson Dala and Cristovao “Mabululu” Paciencia

With his clinical goalscoring, the Al-Wakrah in Qatar forward has been crucial to  Angola in this tournament.  He has scored two braces, both against Mauritania and Namibia, and a goal against Nigeria will make him the first Angolan to score five goals in a single AFCON edition. Beyond his goal-scoring prowess, Dala is important to Angola as a creator, creating eight open-play chances so far, the most among his teammates.

Cristovao “Mabululu” Paciencia: 

The Al Ittihad striker has also shown proficiency in front of goal, scoring three goals in this competition, against Algeria, Burkina Faso, and Namibia. His clinicality makes Angola a great offensive threat. 

Key Players – Nigeria 

Ademola Lookman: 

Ademola Lookman, celebrating his goal against Cameroon

The Atlanta forward has emerged as a powerhouse in this competition, scoring  a brace against Cameroon, a performance which won the Man of the Match award. A goal in this crucial match will put him in an elite group of Nigerian players who havescored three or more goals in the knockout rounds of a single AFCON edition. Other Nigerians in this group:  Ighalo in 2019 (4 goals), Jay-Jay Okocha in 2004 (3), and Rashidi Yekini in 1994 (3).

Ola Aina: 

The Nottingham Forest fullback has proven to be valuable in giving the Super Eagles defensive solidity, while also being instrumental in the team’s  counterattack play. 

Both teams exhibit a willingness to relinquish possession and thrive on counter-attacks in the ongoing AFCON 2023. Notably, Nigeria (45.0%) and Angola (44.0%) have maintained an average possession lower than their opponents. Adding to the excitement, both teams find themselves among the top four in terms of shots from counter-attacks, with Angola sharing the lead with South Africa at five, closely pursued by Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea at four. The stage is set for a dynamic encounter characterized by strategic counter-plays and pursuit of offensive opportunities.

Angola team news:

Angola’s first-choice goalkeeper, Adilson Neblú, received a straight red card for handling the ball outside the penalty area in the 16th minute during the victory over Namibia meaning he will miss the match against Nigeria. Consequently, Lausanne-born António Signori stepped in as his replacement in that match and is expected to retain the position in the upcoming clash against Nigeria.

Also, Beni Mukendi, a midfielder, has reportedly departed from the Angolan camp, opting to return to his Portuguese club, Casa Pia, due to limited playing time in the Ivory Coast encounter. 

Nigeria team news:

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali sustained an injury in the second half of the Super Eagles’ match against Cameroon, casting uncertainty over his availability for the upcoming fixture. If he does not pass a late fitness test, head coach Jose Peseior may opt to enlist Francis Uzoho as a replacement for the Chippa United shot-stopper.There is also a concern about the fitness of William Troost-Ekong, the Super Eagles captain.