A first-half goal from Ademola Lookman was enough to help Nigeria overcome Angola and reach the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The former England Under-21 winger emphatically converted a cut-back from Moses Simon four minutes before the break in Abidjan.
The 1-0 scoreline flattered Angola, who were second best for long periods of the game, and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen had a 75th-minute header ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee (VAR).
Angola’s best chance fell to Zine, who rolled the ball against the base of the post when clean through on goal just before the hour mark.
Nigeria will now face the winner of Saturday’s quarter-final between Cape Verde and South Africa (20:00 GMT) in the last four next Wednesday.
- Relive Nigeria’s quarter-final win over Angola as it happened
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If possible, the humidity inside the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium appeared to have gone up another notch from previous games at the finals but both sets of players gave their all despite the conditions to entertain what ended up being a near-capacity crowd.
Angola carved out the first chance of the game, as Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali tipped Mabululu’s effort away following Gilberto’s flick-on from a corner.
But the Palancas Negras showed little intention of over-attacking in the first period, preferring to sit deep and soak up pressure before launching counter-attacks.
The tactic worked well to limit their opponents until just before half-time, when Simon was the architect of Lookman’s goal.
The Nantes man timed his run well to win the ball ahead of the sliding Kialonda Gaspar and surged down the left flank before showing a cool head to look up and pick out his fellow winger’s late run into the area.
Lookman, who now has three goals in the knockout stage, applied the calm side-footed finish.
Nigeria won the most recent of their three continental titles in 2013, and are the highest-ranked side remaining at the finals in Ivory Coast
Osimhen denied goal as Super Eagles progress
Bar the goal, the first period was largely uninspiring, but things perked up after half-time as both teams showed more intent.
Zaidu Sanusi blazed wide after more good wing play from Lookman before Calvin Bassey wasted a header from six yards out after Nigeria worked the ball back into the box following a cleared corner.
Angola should have equalised when an excellent through ball from Show played Zine in behind the resolute Nigeria defence, which has now kept four successive clean sheets.
But the half-time substitute could only strike the right-hand post with his effort, leaving many of his team-mates with their heads in their hands.
African footballer of the year Osimhen thought he had sealed the win with his header from Lookman’s free-kick, only for VAR to intervene after a prolonged check for offside which caught many in the stadium by surprise.
Minutes later, Angola centre-back Gaspar also denied the Napoli striker with a fantastic last-ditch tackle.
Zito Luvumbo had a late shot palmed away by Nwabali and the three-time Nations Cup winners saw out seven minutes of added time to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the 15th time in their past 18 appearances.
Angola, ranked 117th in the world, had surprisingly won their group ahead of 2019 champions Algeria and Burkina Faso, but their wait for a first appearance in the last four goes on.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Nigeria
Formation 3-4-2-1
23Nwabali6Ajayi5Troost-Ekong21Bassey2Aina8Onyeka17Iwobi3Sanusi15Simon18Lookman9Osimhen
- 23Nwabali
- 6Ajayi
- 5Troost-Ekong
- 21BasseyBooked at 55mins
- 2Aina
- 8OnyekaSubstituted forAriboat 87’minutes
- 17IwobiSubstituted forYusufat 80’minutes
- 3Sanusi
- 15Simon
- 18LookmanSubstituted forOmeruoat 90+5’minutes
- 9OsimhenSubstituted forOnuachuat 90+4’minutes
Substitutes
- 1Uzoho
- 4Yusuf
- 7Musa
- 10Aribo
- 11Chukwueze
- 12Osayi-Samuel
- 14Iheanacho
- 16Ojo
- 19Onuachu
- 20Awaziem
- 22Omeruo
- 24Moffi
Angola
Formation 4-3-3
1Signori Dominique21Melo Afonso6Gaspar3Buatu Mananga13de Jesus Corte Real Carneiro16Kulembe Gomes Ribeiro23da Silva Cafumana20Tualungo Paulo Lameiras7Vieira19Paciência10Muondo Dala
- 1Signori Dominique
- 21Melo AfonsoSubstituted forBelaat 78’minutes
- 6GasparBooked at 71mins
- 3Buatu Mananga
- 13de Jesus Corte Real Carneiro
- 16Kulembe Gomes RibeiroSubstituted forLourenço Pinto de Almeida Pazat 65’minutes
- 23da Silva Cafumana
- 20Tualungo Paulo LameirasSubstituted forCabaça Salvadorat 45’minutes
- 7VieiraSubstituted forSebastião Luvumboat 66’minutes
- 19PaciênciaBooked at 71mins
- 10Muondo DalaBooked at 74minsSubstituted forMendes João Milsonat 86’minutes
Substitutes
- 4Keliano
- 5Cunga Balanga
- 9Cabaça Salvador
- 11Mendes João Milson
- 12Manuel Monteiro
- 15Sebastião Luvumbo
- 17Lourenço Pinto de Almeida Paz
- 18Bela
- 24Mangala
- 25Ferreira dos Santos
Referee:Issa SyAttendance:18,757
Match Stats
Home TeamNigeriaAway TeamAngolaPossessionHome45%Away55%ShotsHome13Away10Shots on TargetHome3Away2CornersHome4Away7FoulsHome15Away19
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Nigeria 1, Angola 0.
- 90’+8′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Nigeria 1, Angola 0.
- 90’+8′
Post update
Attempt missed. Jonathan Buatu (Angola) header from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
- 90’+7′
Post update
Corner, Angola. Conceded by Calvin Bassey.
- 90’+7′
Post update
Jérémie Bela (Angola) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90’+7′
Post update
Foul by Paul Onuachu (Nigeria).
- 90’+6′
Post update
Foul by Show (Angola).
- 90’+6′
Post update
Paul Onuachu (Nigeria) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 90’+5′
Substitution
Substitution, Nigeria. Kenneth Omeruo replaces Ademola Lookman.
- 90’+4′
Substitution
Substitution, Nigeria. Paul Onuachu replaces Victor Osimhen because of an injury.
- 90’+2′
Post update
Bruno Paz (Angola) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90’+2′
Post update
Foul by Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria).
- 90’+1′
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 90’+1′
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Victor Osimhen (Nigeria).
- 90′
Post update
Zito Luvumbo (Angola) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 90′
Post update
Foul by Zaidu Sanusi (Nigeria).
- 89′
Post update
Attempt saved. Zito Luvumbo (Angola) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bruno Paz.
- 88′
Post update
Offside, Angola. Mabululu is caught offside.
- 87′
Substitution
Substitution, Nigeria. Joe Aribo replaces Frank Onyeka.
- 86′
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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