AFCON 2023: Angola Top Scorer Gelson Dala Unveils Plans to Stop Super Eagles

• Gelson Dala says Angola will make life difficult for the Super Eagles
• The Black Antelopes face Nigeria in the AFCON quarter-final
• Angola are bidding to reach the semifinals for the first time

Gelson Dala has vowed Angola will make life difficult for the Super Eagles when both teams meet in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, February 2.

The Black Antelopes are the highest scorers in the competition so far with nine goals, and they come up against the meanest defence as Nigeria has conceded just one goal in four games.

According to Complete Sports, Dala, who is Angola’s top scorer with four goals, says the Palancas Negras will fight hard and even pull off an upset against the Super Eagles.

“We will fight and make life hard for them. With our fans, we believe we can win.”

"Get to the final": Ndidi sets target for Super Eagles ahead of Cameroon clash

Football

Angola, who were quarter-finalists in 2008 and 2010, have never gotten to the semi-final of the AFCON in their history and will be hoping to break that jinx against Nigeria at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.

Angola loses red card appeal

Meanwhile, Angola will be without their first-choice goalkeeper, Adilson Cipriano da Cruz, popularly known as Neblu, against the Super Eagles in their quarter-final clash on Friday, Soccernet reports.

Neblú got a red card after just 16 minutes in their round of sixteen clash against Namibia when he handled the ball outside of the box.

The goalkeeper was given his marching orders and was set to miss the next two games for Pedro Gonçalves' team, but after an appeal, the 30-year-old will just miss one, the quarter-final against Nigeria.

Goncalves piles pressure on Super Eagles

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Angola coach Pedro Goncalves has increased the pressure on Nigeria ahead of their AFCON quarterfinal match against the Super Eagles.

AFCON 2023: Angola coach hails Super Eagles squad depth ahead of quarterfinal tie

Football

Goncalves noted that Nigeria will field the most competent team when the three-time AFCON winners file out against the Black Antelopes in their crunch quarter-final clash on Friday.

The Super Eagles have been named the new favourites to win the 34th edition of the competition, with Opta AI giving them a 55.5% chance of victory.