The Super Eagles of Nigeria have defeated Angola to become the first team to book a place in the semi-final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Angola almost took the lead inside four minutes, as a corner from their right was helped on to Mabululu, whose attempt at the near-post was kept out by Stanley Nwabili, the Nigerian goalkeeper.
But, Nigeria’s Moses Simon collected a pass on the left, accelerated away from Angola’s Kialonda Gaspar and drove into the area before cutting the ball back for Lookman to finish successfully into the Angola’s net.
Ademola Lookman was once again the hero, connecting with a cross from Moses Simon to put the Eagles in front in the 41st minute. The goal was enough to secure a place for the Nigerians in the last four of the competition.
The Super Eagles then saw the game out before a crowd of 18,757 in Abidjan, with Osimhen finding the net in the second half, only for his effort to be disallowed after the VAR ruled him to be offside.
Osimhen tried his luck twice from headers but it was Lookman, the Atalanta forward and former England Under-21 international, who broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.
The three-time continental champions advance to a last-four tie next Wednesday against Cape Verde or South Africa in the central Ivorian city of Bouake. Those sides will meet in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Photo: Franck Fife, AFP