Nigeria is set to face Angola at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan today as they continue their quest for their fourth Africa Cup of Nations title.
After emerging as the top-ranked country following the exit of some of the continent’s big guns, the Super Eagles are now the favorites to win the 34th edition of the AFCON in Ivory Coast.
Nigeria is playing in its 11th quarter-final match at the AFCON, which is the most by any team at this stage of the competition (alongside Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Tunisia).
The Eagles beat Cameroon 2-0 in the round of 16 to reach the last eight, while Angola thrashed Namibia 3-0 earlier at the Stade de la Paix in front of 28,663 fans
Jose Peseiro’s men are aiming for a fourth continental showpiece win, while it is the third time that the Black Antelopes have made it to this stage of the AFCON.
Nigeria has won their last three AFCON games without conceding, but they’ve never won four consecutive matches in a single edition without conceding a goal. Their defense will be tested by the Angolans, who have played one of the most beautiful games at the tournament, and the three-time champions will be wary of the competition’s second-top striker, Gelson Dala.
In 43 years, both sides have met 10 times, with Nigeria winning three, losing two, and drawing five.
