Nigeria quickly on the attack
The Super Eagles are off to a strong start with two close situations. After good work in Osimhen’s delivery, Iwobi first saw his shot deflected. On the following action, Sanusi’s rise resulted in a big strike from the side, but off target.
It’s back to Abidjan!
The Angolan coach logically plays an offensive move: midfielder Estrela gives way to an additional attacker, Zini.
Advantage Nigeria
Led by an incisive and constantly threatening Victor Osimhen (16th, 24th, 36th), Nigeria gradually gained strength in this first act to end up setting the sights thanks to Ademola Lookman (1-0, 41st), served by Moses Simon. Not far from quickly opening the score through Mabululu (4th), the Palancas Negras challenge the new favorite of the competition but will have to raise their level further to get back on track.
Simon struggles defensively
Very nice return from Nantes, who makes the effort to resume Gilberto’s climb in his lane. Nigerian solidarity.
Additional time
While Buatu is being treated on the pitch, the fourth referee signals a minimum of 3 minutes more.
There is damage
Big air clash between Buatu and Osimhen. Both players remain on the ground, the Angolan fell heavily.
Stat’
This is the third goal scored by Lookman in this CAN, after his saving double scored in the round of 16. Note Osimhen’s superb movement on his goal, with a perfect false lead to leave the field to his teammate.
LOOKMAAAAAN, 1-0 FOR NIGERIA!!!
The Super Eagles strike first!!! Bleeding in the left lane, Simon eliminates Gaspar too easily, fixes the defense and serves Lookman behind. The latter arrives launched and catapults the ball to the bottom with a powerful flat foot!!
The Fredy-Gilberto connection works on set pieces
Corner kicked by Fredy on the right, this is the situation which led to the first Angolan hot situation at the start of the match. Gilberto is still present to cut the trajectory near the post, but it is without danger this time.
Osimhen’s head next
The attacker always struggles up front and serves as a support point for his teammates. He is found on a huge long touch from Aina, he imposes himself in the air but uncrosses his head too much.
Stat’
None of the teams present in the quarter-finals during the last edition of the CAN managed to reach this stage of the competition this year.
Gaspar shaken
The big guy from the Angolan defense takes a curling shot from Iwobi head-on. He needs time to recover from the shock, we take the opportunity to take the first drink break.
Mabululu sought towards the surface
On the right wing, Gilberto is more threatening than the discreet Dala so far. His curled cross is not far from being in the right area for Mabululu.
Osimhen had sprung!
What an incisive run from the Nigerian striker, who perfectly anticipates the trajectory and cuts off a good cross from Simon! He places a powerful header that Signori captures in two steps on his line!
Nigeria regularly in the opposing area
Simon fixes two players on the right of the box and crosses hard to the ground. Osimhen is not in the target area, the Palancas Negras are growing back in the distance.
Osimhen on the ground
The game is interrupted as the Nigerian star writhes in pain, having just been stepped on by Show. The referee comes to see if there is any breakage, it will be possible to resume.
Aina performing well on the right side
Note the good first 20 minutes of the piston in his lane, which contains Dala well and also brings offensively.
Osimhen’s first attempt
The striker has his athleticism admired and proves that he can be an interesting anchor point up front. He manages to win the duel in the area against the solid Gaspar but his header goes over.
Poorly struck set piece by Lookman
Simon is hooked by Dala, Nigeria gets an interesting free kick. Lookman crosses hard towards the near post but Carneiro easily clears the danger with a diving header.
Nigeria should have expected it
These first minutes are open, with two playing teams and the favorite put in difficulty by Angola, a real pain point for this edition.
Osimhen’s shadow loomed
Strange intervention from Gaspar, under pressure from Osimhen who deflects an opposing cross behind him and is not far from putting the ball in his goal.
Huge situation for Angola!!
On the first corner of the match, Fredy found Gilberto’s header uncrossed at the near post. Alone facing the goal, Mabululu takes it with a flat foot but stumbles on Nwabali, it was a goal ball!!
First danger for the Super Eagles
The Angolans do not hesitate to turn in this start against a Nigerian team with intense pressing, always launched by the aggressive Osimhen. The Palancas Negras get the first corner.
Let’s go for this quarter-final!
It was the Nigerians, in green, who kicked off this match in Abidjan!
The national anthems will ring out!
The players appeared on the pitch at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan, accompanied by the referee of the match, the Senegalese Issa Sy.
Last square in sight
The winner of this quarter-final will face the winner of the match between Cape Verde and South Africa next Tuesday (6 p.m.) in the semi-finals.
Palancas Negras ever more attractive
Nice surprise of this edition, Angola creates a sensation match after match and now takes on the role of outsider, having never reached the semi-finals of a CAN in its history. First in their group, the Angolans defeated Namibia with panache (3-0) in the 8th, notably with a double from Gelson Dala, once again exposing all their offensive potential. They did not steal this third quarter-final in their history, after 2008 and 2010.
The Super Eagles new favorites?
The last ogre still in the running with Ivory Coast, Nigeria assumes its status during this CAN. If they were not really impressive during the group stage (2nd tied on points with Equatorial Guinea), the Nigerians gained momentum in the 8th like Victor Osimhen, with a clear victory against Cameroon ( 2-0). Winners in 2013, José Peseiro’s men have almost free rein to repeat the feat, but we know this CAN is terribly full of twists and turns…
We also know the Angola eleven, the number 2 goalkeeper starts
Sent off in the 8th, Neblu was replaced in the cage by Signori. Second top scorer in the competition (4 goals), Gelson Dala starts, just like the nice surprises since the start of the tournament Fredy and Mabululu.
The composition: Signori – Afonso, Gaspar, Buatu, Carneiro – Fredy, Show, Estrela – Gilberto, Mabululu, Dala.
The Nigerian composition has fallen, with the offensive army aligned from the start
Victor Osimhen obviously starts in attack, with around him Moses Simon from Nantes and Ademola Lookman, who remains on a double in the 8th. We will monitor the system applied by the coach, which should be a 3-4-3.
The eleven : Nwabali – Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey – Aina, Iwobi, Onyeka, Sanusi – Lookman, Osimhen, Simon.
Hello and welcome to this CAN match live
Will the surprises continue or, for once in this African Cup of Nations, will the hierarchy be respected? This Friday, at the opening of the quarter-finals, Nigeria, the new favorite of the competition since the surprise eliminations of Senegal and Morocco in the round of 16, faces Angola, who did not make any details against Namibia in eighth finals.
Kick-off at 6 p.m. on BeIN Sport. A match to also follow in full on RMC’s 100% CAN digital radio this way. And of course, live commentary on the RMC Sport website and app.