AFCON 2023: Lookman Sees Eagles through with third tournament goal against Angola

Nigeria are into the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after a narrow 1-0 win over a spirited Angola side. The three-time former winners booked their place in the final four thanks to Ademola Lookman’s first-half goal. Angola hit the post after the break but were unable to fashion a goal of their own as they head home after an otheriwse impressive tournament.

Ademola Lookman scored the only goal as Nigeria edged out Angola to book their place in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.
The Atalanta winger struck four minutes before half-time in Abijdan, turning in Moses Simon’s cross to book a last-four date with either Cape Verde or South Africa.

Bidding to reach their first semi-final, Angola made a bright start and were denied in the fourth minute when Stanley Nwabali kept out Mabululu’s close-range volley.

However, it was Nigeria who hit the front in the 41st minute. Simon skipped away from Kialonda Gaspar’s sliding challenge and squared the ball for Lookman to fire into the roof of the net.
Angola almost responded just before the hour mark. Substitute Zine latched onto Show’s throughball and beat Nwabali, only to see his first-time shot bounce back off the post.
Although VAR denied Victor Osimhen, whose header from Lookman’s free-kick was chalked off for offside, the Super Eagles held out to secure their passage into the semi-finals.

The highest-ranked nation remaining in the competition, three-time winners Nigeria demonstrated their ability to handle the favourites tag with a hard-earned victory.
Dangerous going forward with Lookman, Simon and Osimhen, the Super Eagles also produced yet another solid defensive performance.
Indeed, they have now won four successive Africa Cup of Nations matches without conceding.
Champions in 1980, 1994 and 2013, Jose Peseiro’s side certainly have plenty of positives to build on as they head into the semi-finals.