Nigeria will be eager to avoid the poisoned chalice of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations favourites tag when they face Angola in today’s quarter-final at the Felix Houphouët Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, writes TUNDE LIADI.
No quarter would be given and none would be asked today as three-time champions, Nigeria clash with battle-hardened Angola in a quarter final match at the Felix Houphouët Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
Incidentally, both teams have had an interesting route to arrive at this stage of the competition.
While the Palancas Negras eliminated’ inexperienced’ Namibia by recording their first victory in the tournament’s knockout stage in the Round of 16, the Super Eagles defeated eternal rivals Cameroon 2-0 to better their AFCON 2021 performance where they crashed out in the Round of 16 to Tunisia despite winning all their three group stage games.
Though expectations were low before Jose Peseiro’s team played their AFCON opener a fortnight ago against Equatorial Guinea after a less impressive preparation for the competition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate, the Super Eagles are now angling for their long-awaited fourth title following that 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the last round.
Ademola Lookman netted twice in the game, but Victor Osimhen’s battling traits were equally important despite not adding to the one goal scored at AFCON 2023 against Equatorial Guinea.
Peseiro’s men have been beneficiaries of a watertight rearguard that has seen them concede insignificant shots on goal, with the last clear-cut chance created against them coming in the 1-0 success over Cote d’Ivoire in their second game of the finals.
With the bracket opening up after South Africa stunned World Cup 2022 semi-finalists Morocco on Tuesday, Nigeria are being backed to secure the results against Angola and face either Cape Verde or South Africa to progress to the decider on February 11.
With this competition proving the gap between the heavyweights and emerging nations is closing, experts believe the Super Eagles cannot rest on their oars yet .
Incidentally, Angola stand in the Super Eagles’ path to another semi-final, and the southern African nation are not expected to be straightforward opponents against the highest-ranked side left in the competition.
At this tournament, the 34th edition of the continental showpiece event, Pedro Goncalves’ men surprisingly topped Group B which housed 2019 champions Algeria, with seven points and have not looked back since that 1-1 draw with the Fennecs as they defeated fearless Mauritania (3-2), Burkina Faso (2-0) and Namibia (3-0).
The recent win continued the free-scoring side’s AFCON 2023 campaign , aided by Gelson Dala and Mabululu, who have combined to notch seven of the nine netted by the Palancas Negras.
That accounts for 77.8% of Angola’s goals at the continental showpiece, and the pair’s influence would undoubtedly be pivotal to haunt Peseiro’s men today.
Incidentally, the Palancas Negras have a history of ruining the West African nation’s ambition, with the South African nation denying the Super Eagles a place at the 2006 World Cup.
Producing a top showing to deny Nigeria a spot at the AFCON 2023 semis would be only their second-ever success at the Cup of Nations knockouts — adding to the first triumph against Namibia last Saturday.
Apart from Mabululu and Gelson Dala, Fredy’s three assists have been pivotal for the Palancas Negras, while Gilberto poses a threat with his unpredictability.
Angola must do without the suspended Neblu, sent off after 17 minutes against Namibia for handling the ball outside his penalty area.
On the other hand, Nigeria are sweating over Stanley Nwabali with the goalkeeper withdrawn after sustaining an injury against Cameroon, although the Chippa United shot-stopper trained on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles trained without William Troost-Ekong on Monday and Tuesday, with the vice-captain troubled by the thigh problem that kept him out of the final Group A game against Guinea-Bissau.
Osimhen, Lookman and Moses Simon should play up top, as Peseiro is not expected to change tack in the competition’s quarters.
But former Super Eagles defender, Ifeanyi Udeze, knows the difficult task at hand and warned the coach Jose Peseiro-led team not to underrate the Palancas Negras who he affirmed, have had a good competition thus far based on the results they have churned out.
Speaking ahead of today’s tie, Udeze explained why the Eagles would not find the game against Angola easy.
“Angola is not a walkover because they have shown what they can do in this tournament,” the former left-back said on Brila FM.“I have played against Angola in the past and whenever they play Nigeria they always put in everything.
“The Eagles should approach the game against Angola just like the way they did in the game with Cameroon.”
Similarly, Super Eagles two-goal hero versus Cameroon, Ademola Lookman is expecting a tough challenge against the marauding Angolans.
“The Angolans are a good team. We’ll analyze them and prepare. The further you go, the tougher it gets so we’ll take it game by game,” the Atalanta of Italy striker said during the week. “I love this atmosphere, it’s incredible. Our fans pushed us to the end because this was Cameroon, and when you wear the Super Eagles shirt, some games resonate more than others.”
Meanwhile, Peseiro has urged his players not to leave any stone unturned ahead of today’s 2023 AFCON quarter final duel with Angola, adding they must play better against the Palancas Negras than they did against Cameroon in order to seal a semi-final ticket.
“I think my players know that. We are playing with a fantastic spirit now, but we must be focused on the target against Angola,” Peseiro said.
Reflecting on the individual performances of his players, Peseiro thumbed up the performance of Victor Osimhen who despite not scoring on Saturday had a fantastic game and he charged the Napoli attacker to become irrepressible to the Angolan defence today.
“He (Osimhen) is a fantastic player for our team, we have very good players, he will win the ball, hold play until our players arrive. We will like him to do the same against Angola and throughout the competition,” Peseiro added.
Speaking to the media ahead of the tie, Angola’s Portuguese coach Pedro Gonçalves named two Super Eagles players that have caught his eye at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
Gonçalves mentioned Osimhen and Lookman as he spoke about the defensively solid Nigerian team who has kept three consecutive clean sheets lining up in a 3-4-3 system.
Speaking to Sapo Desporto, Gonçalves admitted: “I myself, in the FIFA votes, also voted for him (Victor Osimhen) as one of the best players in the world, so we will play against a selection equipped with players with a lot of talent, who have tremendous, mind-blowing playing capacity, a lot of speed, especially derived from of the two forwards, Osimhen and Lookman, who, in fact, add great vertigo to the game.
“On the other hand, he has played with three very robust central defenders who are extremely adapted.”
Lookman has been involved in three of the four goals scored by Nigeria at 2023 AFCON while Osimhen has directly participated in two goals and won the game-winning penalty against Cote d’Ivoire.
But the Palancas Negras have long been a bogey team for Nigeria as the Super Eagles have only beaten them twice in nine internationals while drawing five matches.
Angola caused a steer in 2005 when they qualified for the 2006 World Cup ahead of Nigeria after a surprise 1-0 victory in Luanda in June 2004 before playing out a 1-1 draw in the away game.
It is at the backdrop of this that Trabzonspor striker, Paul Onuachu , is urging his teammates to be focused and face Angola with the same level of determination with which they’ve played in the AFCON so far.
“It’s a game we have to take seriously, like we’ve done with the previous games. There’s no easy game here, no easy opponent, especially when it comes to facing Nigeria,” Onuachu told Hot Sports. “Every team wants to show that they can beat Nigeria, especially the ones that believe they are underdogs; that’s where we will get more difficulty.
“Everyone knows what’s at stake and we all know how prepared we are to face Angola so it’s going to be a tough game. My goal, the team’s goal, the country’s goal is to return to Nigeria with the cup.”
Equally, William Troost Ekong who told journalists at Ecole Nationale de la Police that they have prepared for the fixture with the Palancas Negras better than they have done with other teams.
“We have prepared for the game the same way as we have prepared for every game so far in this tournament,” Ekong told journalists. “Angola looks like a very good team, we are going to have to play our best football to try and beat them.
“We are working very hard, you can see it today in the training. Everyone is trying to do the maximum and it is going to be difficult for the coach to select who is going to play.
“From here we are going to be very focused for the game on Friday.”
Fit again Royal Antwerp of Belgium midfielder, Alhassan Yusuf, has promised Nigerians that the Eagles would give the game against Angola their best shot to ensure qualification for the semi-final.
“We are going to give it our best because the goal is to qualify for the semi -final,” Yusuf noted. “We have agreed to take our games one after the other. We are looking forward to a good game and a chance to hit the semi-final.
Speaking in the vein, the NFF President Ibrahim Gusau is confident that Nigeria will punch their way into the semi-final of the 2023 AFCON.
“I have absolute confidence that we are going to do well in this tournament. I have the believe that we are going to take the trophy back to Nigeria,” Gusau told Arise TV. “The boys want to make name for themselves and having seen the commitment of the Federal Government too they know that if they do well, they will get more from the government.
“The greatest thing that can happen to me in life is to see that I win the AFCON and then to qualify Nigeria for 2026 World Cup. It will be a highly tremendous thing of joy to my life, family and those associated with me,” he added.
Yet the Palancas Negras are unbeaten in their last five matches against Nigeria with four draws and a victory in that time hence the upcoming quarter-final is set to be an exciting match.
While Nigeria has a historical edge of being three times AFCON winners, Angola’s recent performance and resilience should not be underestimated.
The Super Eagles would need to bring their best game to advance to the semi-finals and keep their AFCON title hopes alive.
Both teams are undoubtedly eager to secure their spot in the semi-finals but the big question: will the Super Eagles emerge victorious or will the Palancas Negras cause another AFCON 2023 upset?
The battle line has been drawn…
NIGERIA VS ANGOLA: NOTABLE PAST ENCOUNTERS
Ahead of the crunch AFCON 2023 quarter-final tie, listed here is recent history of matches between Nigeria and Angola which offers insights as what to expect tonight in Abidjan.
Nigeria 0-0 Angola (11 January 2012)
This encounter ended in a goalless draw, indicating a closely contested battle where neither side could break the deadlock. In a match where the Super Eagles played with an entirely home based side, they were unable to create decisive chances to overcome their Angolan opponents.
Nigeria 1-1 Angola (18 June 2005)
Paulo Figueiredo restored parity for the Palancas Negras in the 60th minute at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano after Austin Okocha’s free kick had put Nigeria ahead in the fifth minute. It was a game the Eagles needed an outright win to secure the ticket to the 2006 FIFA World Cup but it was Angola that picked the ticket.
Angola 1-0 Nigeria (20 June 2004)
In this match, Angola secured a narrow 1-0 victory after the NFF’s fire brigade approach ruined the game in Luanda. Fabrice Akwa’s 84th minute strike proved to be the difference at the Estadio da Cidadela, Luanda. The result would later culminated in the Eagles absence at the Germany 2006 World Cup.
Nigeria 2-2 Angola (21 June 2003)
It ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. The draw was enough to confirm the Eagles as group winner ahead of the 2004 AFCON. Angola picked the other ticket. The match witnessed the introduction of former Super Eagles attacker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie who got the equaliser while Uche Kalu scored Nigeria’s other goal. Paulo Figueiredo and Fabrice Akwa both scored for Angola in the game.
Angola 2-2 Nigeria January 22, 1989
The Super Eagles got a 2-2 draw in Luanda with Stephen Keshi and Mike Obiku scoring for Nigeria while Viera Dias and Jesus scored for the Palancas Negras. It was the first leg of the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Nigeria would later fail to qualify for the final round after the away loss to Cameroon.
Nigeria 1-0 Angola August 12, 1989
The Super Eagles’ most recent triumph over the Angolans dates the 1-0 victory in the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium in Lagos in 1989. But it was an anti-climax as this it’s best remembered as the game Super Eagles midfielder, Samuel Okwaraji , slumped and later died.
