AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Suffer Injury Blow As 2 Players Ruled Out of Angola Tie

• The Super Eagles will be without two top players against Angola
• Ahmed Musa and Bright Osayi-Samuel will miss Friday’s quarterfinal
• Nigeria is bidding to win the Nations Cup for the fourth time

Nigeria has suffered a huge blow ahead of their quarter-final tie against Angola at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after two players were ruled out of the encounter due to injury.

Captain of the Super Eagles Ahmed Musa and defender Bright Osayi-Samuel will play no part in the knockout game against the Black Antelopes on Friday after picking knocks in training.

According to Score Nigeria, Musa, who is yet to feature at this year’s AFCON, injured his thigh in training this week and has since not trained with the rest of the Super Eagles squad.

Osayi-Samuel, on the other hand, is out of the crunch game against Angola owing to a possible knee injury, and his status for the remainder of the tournament is uncertain.

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The Super Eagles have been tipped as favourites to progress to the semi-final and eventually win the cup following the exits of Senegal, Morocco and Algeria from the competition.

Oliseh backs Nigeria for title

Meanwhile, former captain of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh, has named Nigeria and host nation Ivory Coast as the top two contenders to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Complete Sports reports.

Nigeria and the Elephants are the highest-ranked teams remaining in the competition following the surprise elimination of previous title favourites Morocco and defending champions Senegal.

Ivory Coast will be back in action on Saturday against Mali in the quarter-finals, while the Super Eagles will tackle Angola as the race for the AFCON title hots up.

Nwabali declared fit to face Angola

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Stanley Nwabali will be available for the Super Eagles for Friday's Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal against Angola at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

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The Nigeria medical staff believes the Chippa United goalkeeper's injury was not as severe as initially feared and has deemed the 27-year-old entirely fit to face the Black Antelopes.

Nwabali was stretched off in Nigeria’s Round of 16 victory against Cameroon, sparking rumours he could miss the crucial game against Angola.