AFCON 2024 goes into quarter-finals: Nigeria’s Super Eagles set to claw Angola’s Antelopes
By Abdullahi Shuaibu
February 02, 2024
Nigeria will today at 6pm local time tackle Angola in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal encounter at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
The Super Eagles secure their spot after defeating old rivals, Cameroon 2-0 in the Round of 16 on 27 January courtesy of dashing midfielder Ademola Lookman’s brace.
Nigeria are enjoying a four-match unbeaten run across all competitions with the three-time Afcon champions having recorded three successive victories and one draw.
Angola reached this stage after thrashing Namibia 3-0 in the Round of 16 on 27 January with second highest score of the tournament, Gelson Dala grabbing a brace before Mabululu netted the third goal.
The Angolan team known as “Sable Antelopes” are now unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions having registered six successive draws and three consecutive wins.
Meanwhile, Guinea beat 10-man Equatorial Guinea 1-0 on Sunday to advance to the quarter-finals, while record seven-time AFCON champions Egypt, lacking injured talisman Mohamed Salah, were knocked out of the tournament after losing a penalty shootout 8-7 against DR Congo.
Elsewhere, Cape Verde won an AFCON knockout tie for the first time in their history on Monday as a late Ryan Mendes penalty gave them a 1-0 victory over Mauritania.
Hosts Ivory Coast stunned Senegal, knocking out the reigning African champions on penalties in the last 16 to keep their hopes of winning the title on home soil alive.
Finally, Lassine Sinayoko scored his third goal at the Africa Cup of Nations as Mali reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2013 by defeating Burkina Faso 2-1.
South Africa knocked out title favourites Morocco and 2022 World Cup semifinalist thanks to goals from Makgopa and Mokoena that gave them a 2-0 victory.