Iwobi shoots wide from range, Osimhen in pain

Ademola Lookman’s first-half goal sent the Super Eagles into the semi-final at 2023 AFCON

Ed Mackey

February 2, 2024 at 3:02 PM EST

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How it happened: Nigeria 1-0 AngolaIwobi shoots wide from range, Osimhen in pain

50′ Nigeria 1-0 Angola

Another chance for Iwobi and another speculative one that was never testing Signori.

This one is taken from 30 yards and flies harmlessly wide of the target.

Meanwhile, Osimhen has momentarily left the pitch with the physios.

Iwobi shot blocked before Sanusi fires over

48′ Nigeria 1-0 Angola

A quick free-kick taken by Nigeria catches Angola off guard and Osmihen finds himself in space.

He rolls the ball back for Iwobi whose left-footed effort from range is deflected wide for a corner.

After that corner is ultimately cleared, Nigeria attack again and Sanusi found himself with a chance in the penalty area but he couldn’t keep his strike down.

Second half underway!

46′ Nigeria 1-0 Angola

The players are back out on the pitch and the second half is underway in Abidjan.

There was one change at the break as Estrela has been replaced by Zini for Angola.

Troost-Ekong shining for Nigeria

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HT Nigeria 1-0 Angola

It will be the Nigeria forwards to garner all the praise from that first half, but Troost-Ekong has been flawless at the heart of the defence.

His anticipation of the match has been second-to-none, allowing him to be perfectly placed every time Angola launch an attack.

I’d expect that, the longer this game stays 1-0, he will be very busy in the second half.

Half-time stats pack

HT Nigeria 1-0 Angola

Here is how that first half looks on the statistic sheet:

Nigeria 1-0 Angola

Nigeria’s golden combination

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HT Nigeria 1-0 Angola

As the Angola defenders focused most of their attention on Osimhen’s exploits, it was the two widemen that combined for the opening game.

Simon’s fleet of foot gave him the chance to pick out Lookman who made no mistake with an excellent finish.

A tactical masterstroke from Peseiro

HT Nigeria 1-0 Angola

A few minutes before Nigeria scored, Lookman and Simon switched wings. As they did it in their previous game against Cameroon.

I’m not sure head coach Jose Peseiro expected the move to pay off so quickly this time though.

Nigeria 1-0 in front at half time

HT Nigeria 1-0 Angola

And there goes the half-time whistle.

Nigeria have a deserved lead at the halfway stage after dominating the majority of the first half.

Angola, though, are very much in this game and will maintain their threat in the second half.

Three minutes added on

45+1′ Nigeria 1-0 Angola

There will be three more minutes of this first half.

Lookman answers Aina’s critique

44′ Nigeria 1-0 Angola

Moments after Aina was moaning at Lookman for a lack of movement, the Atalanta winger scores!

It was a great piece of skill down the left from Simon and Lookman tucked the cross away.

The Nigerian journalists enjoyed that, I’m not sure the Angolan media behind us did.

A brilliant assist and an emphatic finish

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42′ Nigeria 1-0 Angola

Simon slips away from Gaspar and Nigeria are in on the Angolan penalty area.

He has Osimhen and Lookman for support in the penalty area and picks out the latter with a low cross.

Lookman runs onto the perfectly-weighted pass and hammers a left-footed strike into the roof of the net.

1-0!

Lookman makes it 1-0 to Nigeria!

41′ Nigeria 1-0 Angola

Nigeria’s two wingers combine for the opening goal!

Lookman fouls Carneiro

38′ Nigeria 0-0 Angola

Lookman is the latest player to avoid being shown a yellow card.

He clipped Carneiro as he raced past him and into Nigeria’s half, but was only given a warning by the referee.

Osimhen flicks a header wide

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35′ Nigeria 0-0 Angola

Osimhen’s movement in the penalty area is brilliant to watch.

He is on his bike again as Aina aims one of his trademark long throws into the Angola penalty area. The Nigeria striker just gets to the ball first but can’t quite make a meaningful contact as he heads wide.

A first sign of Nigeria frustration in the Ivorian heat

33′ Nigeria 0-0 Angola

First sign of frustration from Nigeria as Aina attempts a cross which is weak and cleared easily. In the aftermath, Lookman appeared to be moaning at Osimhen about a lack of movement.

It is humid here so not the most conducive for a high-tempo game.

Iwobi shot blocked by Gaspar

29′ Nigeria 0-0 Angola

Iwobi bends his first effort of the game towards goal from almost 30 yards and Gaspar gets his head in the way of it.

But it has come at a cost as the Angola centre-back is dazed and drops to the turf to receive some medical attention.

That allows the rest of the players to take their first cooling break.

Angola starting to find some rhythm

28′ Nigeria 0-0 Angola

For the first 20 minutes, Angola were largely being kept in their own half as a result of Nigerian pressure.

But, in the last few minutes, they have gained some control and are causing problems for the opposing defenders.

No real chances have fallen to the Angolans since Mabululu’s early opening, but they do look more threatening.

Nigeria fans awoken by Osimhen chance

26′ Nigeria 0-0 Angola

The Nigerian fans have woken up after Osimhen’s header as they start loudly chanting their star striker’s name.

He is the reigning men’s African Footballer of the Year but has only scored one goal at this tournament

Osimhen header saved!

24′ Nigeria 0-0 Angola

Back to his feet and back into the thick of the action.

Osimhen makes a brilliant darting run to meet Simon’s cross but cannot direct his header past Signori who makes an easy save.

The warning signs continue to come for Angola from Nigeria’s No. 9.