AFCON Clash: Angola’s Underdogs Spirit Faces Nigerian Titans

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An unstoppable force meets an immovable object as Nigeria clashes with Angola in an Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal on Friday evening.

Pedro Gonclaves’ Palancas Negras began Ivory Coast 2023 as rank outsiders – they’re the lowest-ranked side left in the tournament – but they have upset the applecart by scoring a tournament-high ten goals on the road to the last eight.Jose Poseiro’s Super Eagles are the highest-ranked team still in contention.

The three-time winners are ranked number 38 in the world football governing body Fifa’s rankings, a massive 60 places higher than Angola. The Southern African nation will, however, draw inspiration from their own Group D performances, which saw them triumph over Algeria and Burkina Faso, ranked a combined 95 places above them by Fifa.

Nigeria has only netted five goals in Ivory Coast, but they’ve let in a tournament-low one goal with the back four of Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi, Oluwasemilogo ‘Semi’ Ajayi, and William Troost Ekong proving extremely difficult to break down because they are offered excellent protection by Brentford midfield terrier Henry Onyeka.

Poseiro commands even better resources upfront with Atlanta of Bergamo live wire Ademola Lookman, Nice’s Terem Moffi, and Napoli hitman Victor Osimhen. But the Portuguese-born manager knows better than to underestimate compatriot Gonclaves’ Palancas Negras, for whom four-goal hero Gelson Dala has been in irresistible form.

The contest between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea on Friday night is more evenly matched, though Sebastian Desabre’s twice winners are more fatigued, having needed extra time and a penalty shootout to overcome record champions Egypt in the round of 16.

Brentford’s Yoane Wissa is the Leopards go-to striker, whereas Guinea boss Kaba Diawara will be counting on the red-hot form of Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy.

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