Nigeria progressed to the semi-finals of the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) after beating Angola 2-1 at the Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangier on Sunday.
It was heart breaking stuff for Palancas Negras who were so close and yet so far. It took Nigeria 109 minutes to beat brave Angola after extra time.
Anthony Okpotu and Okechukwu Gabriel scored for Nigeria in stoppage-time and extra-time respectively to cancel Vladimir Vá’s opener on a cold evening in Morocco.
In the first period, Nigeria struggled to find one another in the attacking third. The combination of Rabiu Ali and Sunday Fareye as the Super Eagles’ striking pair for the night lacked the required aggression to penetrate their opponents in the final third.
The presence of Chuku Ogbu, who was making his first start under coach Salisu Yusuf following his return from a knee injury, didn’t help either.
The attacking winger lacked the creative spark he’s well known for up and down the touchline.
The only clear chance he created in the first half was when he delivered a pinpoint cross to connect with Ali inside the box, but the latter fluffed that opportunity as his header went over the crossbar.
Not only did Angola hold their defensive line pretty well, they attacked with purpose too. The only problem was they couldn’t put their long-range shots on target.
One of those missed chances was when Afonso Cabungula unleashed a powerful curled shot outside the box to test the opposition ’keeper between the sticks.
Colesso Luis was late for the required save, but luckily enough, the shot went inches over the top corner.
Nigeria played with a great sense of urgency in the first 10 minutes of the second period in search of an opener, but it was Angola who wanted it more.
Vladimir Vá’ scored his first goal international goal, giving them a lead they so desperately needed for Angola who had only one goal scored in the tournament.
Nigeria must have thought luck was against them in the 76th minute but Gabriel headed against the post from Dayo Ojo’s cross.
With the seconds ticking away, Nigeria created a decent attacking move from free kick from inside their own half into the Angolan penalty box and Rabiu Ali’s flicked header fell to Okpotu who this time put away the equaliser and sent his team-mates into wild celebrations.
Just after the break in extra-time,Okechuku Gabriel grabbed the winner in the first half of extra time with a left-footed shot into the back of the net from the edge of the area to send the Super Eagles into semis.
Line ups:
Angola: Landu; Tó, Wilson, Nary, Mira – Herenilson (Celson 90′), Vá, Manguxi (Almeida 81′) – Mano, Job (Paty 63′), Fofó.
Nigeria: Ezenwa; Ikouwem, Orji (Timothy 13′), Eze, Osas – Ojo, Atuloma, Ali – Ogbugh (Oladapo 60′), Faleye (Gabriel 59′), Okpotu.
