Angola Stiffled … Nigeria gets to Medal Stage after 4 decades of futility
Abidjan, I-COAST…..Ademola Lookman’s shot, off a Moses Simon cross, decided the game against Angola 1-0 as Nigeria romped into the semi final of the AFCON. Nigeria was last at this stage more than a decade ago. Today, there was little doubt that Nigeria deserved the win as they created better chances than the Angolans who gave their all searching for their own historical moment.
Angola was the livelier team earlier on. In fact, they could
have gone ahead after just 8 minutes, but Nwabali turned a close Angolan
opportunity into the corner. Nwabali clearly is making his mark in this
tournament, he has given Nigeria the confidence that it lacked in the last
couple of years. His command of the goal area has been top notch and today he produced his trademark long throw that led to what could have been Nigeria’s second goal.
The long throw from his goal area found Osimhen who was fouled. The ensuing free
kick saw Osimhen head into the net, but the VAR showed the latter was inches
offside.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Nwabali clearly is making his mark in this tournament, he has given Nigeria the confidence that it lacked in the last couple of years. His command of the goal area has been top notch and today he produced his trademark long throw that led to what could have been Nigeria’s second goal.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
But it was not just Nwabali playing at a high level. Alex Iwobi,
later substituted, was the maestro in the middle. He was fetching, intercepting,
and generally bossing the middle well ahead of anyone else on display
particularly in the first hour of play.
While Angola finished with more touches on the ball, Nigeria
proved the more dangerous team. Osimhen had a sharp header saved on the line
after 23 minutes. This was before Lookman put Nigeria ahead for good. The work
for that goal belonged solely to Moses Simon who sped down the left after dispatching
a lounging defender. Moses calmly cut the ball back for Lookman to thunder it
home from close.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
But it was not just Nwabali playing at a high level. Alex Iwobi, later substituted, was the maestro in the middle. He was fetching, intercepting, and generally bossing the middle well ahead of anyone else on display particularly in the first hour of play.
........The work for that goal belonged solely to Moses Simon who sped down the left after dispatching a lounging defender. Moses calmly cut the ball back for Lookman to thunder it home from close.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Angola upped its pressure in the second half. This forced
Nigeria to defend deep with five. This formation of five in defense has proven
prescient at this AFCON. Nigeria has now gone 4 games, and 360 minutes without
conceding, a remarkable turnaround for a team that was regularly conceding
before the strategic change.
But as Angola threw everything forward in desperation, Nigeria
periodically rattled them with incisive breakaways that threatened to widen the
margin.
Line - up
Stanley Nwabali – Semi Ajayi, William Ekong (cpt), Calvin
Bassey 48 – Ola Aina, Frank Onyeka (86th Kenneth Omeruo), Alex Iwobi
(80th Alhassan Yusuf), Zaidu Sanusi – Ademola Lookman (90+4 Joseph
Aribo), Victor Osimhen (90+4 Paul Onuachu), Moses Simon.
Ratings
Stanley Nwabili – 6.8 – Stanley was tested today and
two great saves kept Nigeria from conceding, including when it looked more
likely that Angola should have scored, Stanley stretched full length to turn
the ball away from close in the second half.
Ola Aina – 7.0 – If Aina fails to make the tournament
Xi then a recount should be demanded. Today he was excellent again, closing in
quickly to intercept balls and joining attack.
Semi Ajayi – 6.4 – He is the silent giant but with
brain the size of an elephant. His quick thinking made easy work of dispossessing
an opponent deep inside Nigeria’s box in the second half as the Angolans sought
an equalizer.
William Ekong (cpt) – 6.3 – Ekong continued to
present the calmness in defense. However, he fouled up a header in the opening
half but quickly conceded a foul to make up.
Calvin Bassey – 6.5 – Earned his second booking today
but the first had been canceled after Nigeria reached the knockout stage. Tough
defender who recovered from early pacy Angolan challenges on his side.
Zaidu Sanusi – 6.3 – Going forward, Zaidu is a
master. He regularly presents himself but annoyingly can be befuddling with final
decision.
Frank Onyeka – 6.5 – Frank worked very hard in the
middle and may have copped a late injury and was briefly carted off before
returning to a late substitution.
Alex Iwobi – 7.3 – Alex was on his game today. He was
everywhere early presenting as an outlet for passes and creating incisive
passing deep.
Ademola Lookman – 7.0 –He scored the goal and thus
finishes as the most valuable player for the day. Ademola has clearly upped his
game at this AFCON. As he said at his team initiation, he indeed had AFCON
in his mind ala Ashake’s Lonely at the Top.
Victor Osimhen –6.8 – Another virtuoso performance
and appeared injured a few times in the game. Unlucky to have what could have
been Nigeria’s second goal ruled off for marginal offside. He came close two
other times—one a header saved on the line and another having a deflection
divert a goal bound attempt.
Yusuf Alhassan – Not rated but glad to see him back.
Joseph Aribo
-- X
Paul Onuachu – X
Kenneth Omeruo -- X
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