Super Eagles of Nigeria have defeated the Black Antelopes of Angola 1-0 to qualify for the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The goal was scored at the 41st minute of the match by Ademola Lookman at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
The African footballer of the year,Victor Osimhen also scored a goal in the second half but it was disallowed after the VAR ruled him to be offside.
Analysts say Nigeria’s success has been built around an impressive defence that has now kept four consecutive clean sheets.
The three-time continental champions advance to a last-four tie next Wednesday against Cape Verde or South Africa in the central Ivorian city of Bouake — those sides meet in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Angola almost took the lead inside four minutes, as a corner from their right was helped on to Mabululu, whose attempt at the near-post was kept out by Stanley Nwabili, the Nigerian goalkeeper who had passed a fitness test to play.
Osimhen tried his luck twice from headers but it was Lookman, the Atalanta forward and former England Under-21 international, who broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.
Moses Simon collected a pass on the left, accelerated away from Kialonda Gaspar and drove into the area before cutting the ball back for Lookman to finish emphatically.
Nigeria continued to create chances after the break, but Angola did pass up a glorious opportunity to draw level just before the hour mark.
Source: Vanguard
