It’s another game day for the Super Eagles of Nigeria as they look to get past the Palancas Negras (Black Sable antelopes) of Angola.
Being the highest ranked team left at this tournament,the onus and more pressure lies on the Eagles to ensure that no “underdog” gets a first time AFCON title.
Coming off the back of a dominant win over the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon,the Super Eagles have their eyes on getting past Angola and grabbing their fourth ever AFCON title,in Côte d’Ivoire.
The 117th placed team in the world got a favourable tie against Namibia, and did excellently well to cruise past the Brave Lions and book a date with the Super Eagles at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Ivory coast,grabbing three goals and a clean sheet in the process.
The Super Eagles who have recently renewed their scoring abilities, especially with Atalanta attacker Ademola Lookman marking his first AFCON goal with a brace last time out,will have their eyes on building on that and hitting the back of the net more times against the Palancas Negras.
Super Eagles vice captain William Troost Ekong and Ahmed Musa are huge injury doubts for this game,but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali survived an injury scare against the Lions on Saturday,and has been passed fit for this fixture by Portuguese gaffer Jose Paseiro,much to the joy of Nigerian supporters.
The Angolans are missing out on their first choice goalkeeper Neblü who was red carded in the opening stages of the game against Namibia,but the duo of Mabululu and Gelson Dala would be savouring the chance to increase their goal tallies, against the Eagles.
Angola’s last victory against Nigeria was a World Cups qualifier in June 2004, which ended 1-0 thanks to the winning goal by Angola’s all-time top goalscorer Akwa and this new generation would be looking to repeat this feat 20 years later.
No team has ever played in more games at the Quarter finals stage of this competition than Nigeria with 11, (Ghana, Ivory Coast and Tunisia also have 11 appearances).
This would be another step towards doing it again and putting smiles on the faces of various Nigerians home and abroad,with this much awaited win over Angola
