Nigeria vs Angola 1-0: CAF AFCON 2023 quarterfinal – as it happened
All the updates as Nigeria knocked out Angola in the quarterfinals of CAF AFCON 2023.
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Nigeria beat Angola at the African Cup of Nations 2023 on Friday, February 2:
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Nigeria beat Angola at the African Cup of Nations 2023 on Friday, February 2:
- Nigeria beat Angola 1-0 in the first quarterfinal of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
- Ademola Lookman scored the only goal of the game, while Nigeria’s star striker Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed and was stretchered off with an injury towards the end of the match.
- Nigeria will face either South Africa or Cape Verde in the semifinals.
- DRC take on Guinea in Friday’s other AFCON game, which kicks off at 20:00 GMT.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
Diawara comes off
He was booked in the penalty fallout and is now removed.
Guirassy replaces him for Guinea.
69 minutes: DR Congo 2-1 Guinea
That’s all from this game
Thank you for joining us in our coverage of Nigeria vs Angola.
But if you’re still eager for more AFCON action, check out our live coverage of DRC vs Guinea, which kicks off at 20:00 GMT.
Rock solid
Nigeria have conceded only ONE goal at this year's AFCON:
▪️1-1 vs. Equatorial Guinea
▪️1-0 vs. Ivory Coast
▪️1-0 vs. Guinea-Bissau
▪️2-0 vs. Cameroon
▪️1-0 vs. AngolaThrough to the semi-finals 🦅 pic.twitter.com/nOdznkCBAJ
— ESPN Africa (@ESPNAfrica) February 2, 2024
Gutsy showing from the Super Eagles
Nigeria’s performance tonight was a brave one. Their defence was resolute in the face of Angola’s verve and up front, they had the incision to repeatedly break through their opponents.
They won by a single goal but this was a statement performance from the Super Eagles, who move one step closer to winning their fourth AFCON title.
Full-time
Nigeria are through to the semifinals.
Angola pushed hard in added-time but created little of substance. A valiant effort from them but Nigeria are the worthy winners.
FT: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Changes for Nigeria
Osimhen goes off, Onuachu comes on.
The goalscorer Lookman goes off; Omeruo is on in place of him.
90+5mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Luvumbo’s shot is saved
Luvumbo cuts in from the right and shoots but his shot is dealt with easily by Nwabali. He got power behind that but it lacked direction.
Meanwhile, Osimhen has been stretchered off for cramp but amazingly, Nigeria haven’t got a player on in place of him. Nigeria currently with 10 on the pitch, defending a one goal lead in a quarterfinal. Madness.
There will be seven minutes of added time.
90 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Nigeria with their backs to the wall
Angola are pushing hard for an equaliser but Nigeria are battling them for every tackle and loose ball. Osimhen has positioned himself high on the pitch and is the Super Eagles’ outball each time they win back possession.
87 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Osimhen denied
Nigeria break and find themselves in a two-vs-one scenario. Osimhen is slow to react to Lookman’s pass but bulldozes his way through – only for his shot to be blocked. Will Nigeria come to rue that chance?
83 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Goal disallowed
Osimhen’s joy is cut short as he’s adjudged to have strayed offside. Nigeria fans in the stands are in disbelief.
Play is paused for a cooling break.
78 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
GOAL!
Osimhen scores!
A free kick from the right is swung into the box and Osimhen gets up high and generates such power in his header, that despite Signori getting a hand to it, it goes in.
75 mins: Nigeria 2-0 Angola
Gaspar goes into the book
He finds himself on-on-one with Osimhen and in his attempts to get to the bouncing ball, he’s penalised for raising his boot too close to Osimhen’s face. Good thing the Napoli man has some cover there.
72 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Changes for Angola
Fredy and Gilberto go off.
Bruno Paz and Zito Luvumbo come on.
68 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Simon at it again
Moses Simon with a deft bit of footwork, weaves his way past two defenders with a single touch and bursts into the box before eventually seeing the path in front of him blocked. Another piece of magic from the winger tonight.
64 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Angola hit the post
A beautifully weighted through ball splits the Nigerian defence and finds Zini, whose shot hits the far post. Angola’s best chance of the game. Nigeria have been handed a lifeline.
61 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Resilience from Nigeria
The Angola attack has found no flight in the face of this Super Eagles defence. Calvin Bassey, in particualr, has been imperious at the back. However, he becomes the first player in the game to pick up a yellow after a skirmish with Gilberto.
If Angola are to find a way through, it will take a piece of individual brilliance. So far, Nigeria have it locked down.
56 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Nigeria start brightly
Iwobi is teed up by Osimhan on the edge of the box and the Fulham man’s shot is deflected behind for a corner. The resulting corner is played short and worked back from midfield into the box where Iwobi’s pass creates space for Sanusi, but he blasts well over.
48 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Second half under way
Can Angola find a way back or will Nigeria hold firm?
46mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Half-time change for Angola
Estrela is replaced by number nine Zini.
Still thinking about that Simon assist
Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon switched wings a few minutes before Nigeria scored.
It was Simon's cross that Lookman tucked away.
— Jay Harris (@jaydmharris) February 2, 2024
Half-time
After a neat bit of play, Nigeria set Sanusi free down the left and he has acres of space to run into. The break looks on but the winger is overwhelmed by the possibilities in front of him and his momentary indecision is taken advantage of by Gaspar who dispossesses him in the box.
It’s the final act in what’s been a gripping half of football.
HT: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Angola keep pushing
The goal hasn’t hindered Angola. Just moments after Lookman’s goal, they go down the other end and come close to finding an equaliser. Expect more goals here.
45 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Nigeria fans enjoyed that
What a sweet goal. This is the cleanest goal we’ve scored in this competition. Pass and shoot Finesse!!!! #NGAANG #AfCON2023
— Slimfit (@iSlimfit) February 2, 2024
GOAL!
Lookman scores for Nigeria!
Ademola Lookman follows up his brace in the Round of 16 with the opener in the quarterfinal. Moses Simon skips past a couple of challenges on the left and squares in the box for Lookman to lash home.
41 mins: Nigeria 1-0 Angola
Nigeria’s tactics seem clear
Angola’s organisation in defence is forcing Nigeria to whip crosses into the box towards Osimhen. The Angola centre-backs have so far been unable to track his movements.
They aren’t quite cancelling each other out, but the game has slowed down a notch as both sides figure out what approach to adopt.
37 mins: Nigeria 0-0 Angola