AFCON 2023: Pasiero tags Nigeria-Angola a FINAL

Jose Pasiero has named the Nigeria against Angola quarter-final cruncher, “a final before the final” as the Super Eagles gaze at the TotalEnergies AFCON trophy.

The West African powerhouse will have to avoid a historic upset to reach the last four stage of the competition

Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has waved away comments that Nigeria are the favourites to beat Angola when both teams meet in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria will meet Angola for the first time in AFCON history at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Friday, February 2.

The West African giants, three-time winners of the tournament, are the bookmakers’ pick to advance to the semifinals at the expense of an Angolan side that has never reached the last-four stage.

Still, Peseiro believes both teams are on an equal level heading into the match, with each having the same chance to secure victory at the end of the day.

The Portuguese tactician, however, expressed belief in his Super Eagles squad and that his men will take the game against Angola as their second final match.

Peseiro alluded to Nigeria’s Round-of-16 victory over Cameroon as the team’s first final.

“Ok, I believe in my team, we believe in our team,” Peseiro said at his pre-match press conference monitored by sportglitz.

“But this match is in the quarters. It is our second final; we played the first final before, the second final, we want to play the third final, and the fourth final, but for me, this match, specific match, all the match, 50% for each one, you must know, no favouritism.

“For me, tomorrow, you go there, start 0-0, you want to score, you want to suffer, you want to score goals, only that.”

Tournament favourites Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, and Egypt have all been eliminated from the AFCON.

Nigeria are now the highest-ranking team of the eight teams left in the competition, while Angola are the lowest-ranked side.