AFCON PREVIEW: Eagles must dig deep against Angola to reach first semi-final since 2019

The race for the coveted Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy has widened into a clearer view for the remaining teams in the competition. Many heavyweights have been casualties of the tournament’s unpredictability. Several favourites have been sent packing in fixtures they would ordinarily win. Algeria, Tunisia, and Ghana were the earlier victims: their invincibility was ripped apart by minnows like Mauritania, Namibia and Mozambique. Egypt, Morocco, and Senegal followed in the round of 16. Even Equatorial Guinea, the surprise package, was surprised.

All the five highest-ranking teams have been eliminated. With only eight teams remaining, the song of glory is becoming more audible in the emptying hall of participants. Nigerians are hoping that the Super Eagles can indeed clinch the trophy.

But first, Nigeria must navigate the tricky quarter-final clash against Angola at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, on Friday evening. 

As the tournament progresses, the Super Eagles have grown past the shaky, lacklustre side of the early group stage fixtures into a side with a solid structure and game plan.

They brushed aside Cameroon in the last 16 with a brace from Ademola Lookman. The scoreline might suggest a keenly contested encounter, but the reality was far from that. The Cameroonians were limited to zero shot-on-target throughout the match.

But the Angolans are a different kettle of fish. The Sable Antelopes of Angola are deceptively dangerous as the animal the team was named after. They have so far scored nine goals in the competition, while the Eagles have scored just five.

Who will triumph in both countries’ first-ever AFCON meeting?

NIGERIA

The victory over Cameroon clearly showed Jose Peseiro’s vision for the team. The 3-4-3 formation provided defensive rigidity, and the team has not conceded in the last three games.

Against Cameroon, the Eagles also broke the six-game jinx of not scoring more than one goal per match. The discipline of William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, and Kenneth Omeruo has been vital for the Eagles. 

Peseiro has been rewarded for his decision to bench Nigeria’s iconic captain Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi. A more mobile and proactive attack resulted from dropping Musa and the rest. Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon have certainly been up to the task.

With all the top-ranked teams out, the Super Eagles are the favourites to win the tournament. And with the sheer willpower, hunger and skills of Victor Osimhen up front, the Eagles sometimes look like they are up to the task.

However, the concern has been Stanley Nwabali, the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, who was injured against Cameroon. He has been rushed through a fitness test, but whether he will be ready remains to be seen.

ANGOLA

Angola’s biggest threat is Gelson Dala, who scored twice as Angola beat Namibia 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals. He has four goals in the competition, only one behind Emilio Nsue, the leading goal scorer. 

The Black Sable Antelopes’ previous appearances in the last 8 were in 2008 and 2010 — where they extended an unbeaten run in the AFCON to four matches and kept a remarkable five clean sheets from their eight outings.

With the quality and commitment of Dala, fellow attacker Gilberto, plus their centre-backs and tireless midfield anchor Manuel Luís da Silva Cafumana, they have developed into one of African football’s ruthless attacking teams.

Fending off influential sides such as Algeria and Burkina Faso saw them finish first in Group B. As such, they are up to the task at hand.

HEAD TO HEAD 

The last time Nigeria and Angola played each other was during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. Angola defeated Nigeria 1-0 in Luanda before holding on to a 1-1 draw in Kano to qualify for the competition ahead of the Eagles.

Both teams have met 10 times. Nigeria won three, and Angola won two with five draws.

Prediction: Nigeria 3-1 Angola

Even the Palancas Negras cannot keep the Super Eagles at bay for 120 minutes, and one of Nigeria’s cast of stars will find a way to squeeze the team into the semi-finals.