AFCON 2023: Ademola Lookman Strikes Again As Nigeria Cruise to the Semi final After Defeating Angola

• Nigeria have booked a place in the semi-final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast
• The Super Eagles defeated Angola's Palancas Negras in the quarter-final on Friday evening
• The three-time champions continue to keep their good defensive record in the competition

The Super Eagles of Nigeria continue their good run at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as they defeated Angola in the quarter-final to book a place in the last four.

Ademola Lookman's first-half goal sealed a deserved 1-0 victory for the Super Eagles against the Palancas Negras at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

Both started the game brightly, but the Black Antelopes got the first shot on target in the fourth minute with Mabululu's effort saved by Stanley Nwabili.

The Super Eagles got their first good chance in the 24th minute after Victor Osimhen met with Moses Simon's cross, but Antonio Signori saved his header.

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The pressure from Nigeria paid off four minutes before the break after a beautiful play from Simon to set up Ademola Lookman in Angola's box, and the Atalanta forward made no mistake as he sent a precise finish into the roof.

Angola was close to levelling things up on the hour mark, but Zini's strike hit the upright.

The Super Eagles thought they were two goals up in the 75th minute, but VAR ruled out Osimhen's goal.

The Napoli striker got another chance to put the Super Eagles two goals up but failed to find the target after being set up by Lookman in the 81st minute.

Nigeria are the first team to qualify for the semi-final stage and will face the winners between Cape Verde and South Africa in the quarter-finals.

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Sports Brief earlier reported that the Nigeria Football Federation will pay each Super Eagles players $30,000 for qualifying for the knockout stages of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria sealed a second round place in the competition after finishing behind Equatorial Guinea and above Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast in Group A.