Nigeria will face Angola on Friday in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final matchup, looking to continue their underdog narrative at this competition. Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro will rely on the same lineup that beat Namibia in Round 16 action as in their Round of 16 victory.
Stanley Nwabali will likely regain his spot as goalkeeper for Chippa United ahead of Francis Uzoho. In this article, we will discuss about the top matches of Nigeria National Football Team Vs Angola National Football Team Lineups.
Frank Onyeka
Nigeria is one of the most successful football teams in Africa, inspiring generations of fans with its unflappable spirit. Over multiple African Cup of Nations competitions they have won multiple titles thanks to legends like Stephen Keshi who led them all the way to glory despite immense odds in 2013; Stanley Nwabali played an indispensable role during AFCON 2013 final shootout against Ivory Coast when he saved two penalties to ensure an unforgettable win!
Nwabali stands as one of the greatest African goalkeepers and will long be remembered. He made numerous brilliant saves throughout his career and rose to the challenge presented in the dying seconds of a shootout; this performance led the Super Eagles into their inaugural World Cup final appearance while setting an indomitable example for future generations of players and coaches.
Frank Onyeka is an impressive defensive midfielder for Brentford in the Premier League. He boasts great potential and can produce some outstanding passes in the final third. Additionally, he can switch between an attacking role and more defensive roles depending on circumstances – however if he wants to reach top level play he must improve his technical abilities further.
He is an extremely intelligent player who understands how to position himself off the ball situations, often staying near the center of the pitch as an offence point for defense if ball is lost and initiating press quickly and efficiently.
Onyeka is an adept player on the ball who does not shy away from taking long range shots to test his luck. Though he may not get as many chances in the box, Onyeka does not hesitate to take shots from outside the area when available and is never afraid of trying his luck from long range if possible.
Nigeria reached the final of AFCON 2023 thanks to Jose Peseiro’s strong defensive structure, but Finidi George has tried to introduce more creativity. Samuel Chukwueze, who plays right wing for both Nigeria and AC Milan in Italy has benefitted greatly from these adjustments.
Alex Iwobi
Nigeria will face another formidable test from Angola’s strong defense, yet their Super Eagles should advance to the semi-finals. When these teams met during a friendly in 2015, Angola won 4-1.
Alex Iwobi of Arsenal will likely present Angola with their greatest threat at this AFCON tournament. At 23-years-old he has been one of the standout performers, playing some key roles for Nigeria en route to reaching final. Iwobi can make plays that no other player can match up against him.
Iwobi is an invaluable playmaker who has excelled at this African Cup of Nations tournament, providing the Super Eagles with both creation and goal scoring ability. His pace and vision enable him to beat defenders with ease; additionally, his passes have played a vital role in their goalscoring success. Iwobi must start against Angola. His pace allows him to keep pace with opponents; in addition, his crosses have played an essential part in scoring three Super Eagle goals so far!
Nigerian winger Dele Aina has been an integral member of their team, scoring and providing assists in every game so far at this tournament. Additionally, his aerial abilities make him dangerous for opposing defences while his versatility means that he can play in various positions on the pitch.
Nigeria has shown itself to be a formidable defensive unit during this tournament, and should have no difficulty holding off Angola’s dynamic attacking trio: Jacinto Dala, Gilberto and Mabululu have scored nine goals across four matches; their attack has proven potency throughout.
Nigerian midfielders are essential members of the Super Eagles offense and will need to perform at their best against Angola. Frank Onyeka, Moses Simon and Victor Osimhen are highly-talented individuals who possess both scoring ability and providing assists to teammates – so the trio will need to put forward their best performance to defeat Angola. Despite an inauspicious debut against Mali in their opening matchup, all three have made noticeable strides forward since that day; continue this trend against Angola as The Super Eagles look poised to advance into semifinals!
Moses Simon
The Super Eagles have been impressive at this AFCON 2023 tournament and stand a great chance of reaching the semifinals. But in order to do so they will need to perform at their best against an especially tough opponent: Angola’s Palancas Negras are currently ranked 117th worldwide and have scored goals like nobody’s business – if they produce an outstanding display they could easily overcome Jose Peseiro’s side in Abidjan.
Nigeria will look to build on their 2-0 victory against Cameroon in the last 16. Victor Osimhen scored both goals for Nigeria, supported by Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman – three key components to help Nigeria advance and possibly reach the final. However, their progress may depend on other teams as well.
Peseiro has chosen to retain most of his team that played against Cameroon, replacing Francis Uzoho with Stanley Nwabali in goal. Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey will form his defensive unit while Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi will serve as wingbacks.
Nigeria will field Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka in their midfield lineup against Angola. Iwobi will provide creative drive in central areas while Onyeka is responsible for stopping Angola’s attack. Additionally, John Mikel Obi will offer stability.
Samuel Chukwueze will likely assume an even more advanced position against Cameroon than against Ghana, having proven his mettle as one of the squad’s brightest prospects and capable of leading from the front when needed.
Both teams head into this quarter-final match full of confidence, but the outcome will ultimately depend on who can best control and limit Angola’s attacking potential. The Super Eagles have experience doing just this and will need every star player at their disposal if they wish to reach the semifinals and fulfill their fans’ dream of moving onto further competition in this tournament.
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen is one of Europe’s top young strikers, and his performance for Napoli has made him a target for Europe’s premier clubs. The lanky striker is famed for his dynamic runs and ability to create space in tight areas; in addition, his penalty area performances make him a devastating threat; both feet can finish goals while his powerful jump allows him to beat his marker airborne, with speed getting up quickly for second phase balls in the box.
Osimhen can play in various positions for Nigeria, but his best role is that of an on-the-box poacher. Instead of looking to combine with teammates or drop deep to dictate game flow, his movement helps occupy center backs while providing a big presence in the penalty area, giving him opportunities to capitalize on loose touches or deflections and make plays in dangerous areas of the pitch.
Osimhen is known for his speed and off-ball work, yet needs to improve his on-ball skills. He tends to overrun his cuts which hinders his effectiveness in tight spaces. Additionally, Osimhen should become more precise with pass selection, execution and overall technique.
Due to these issues, Osimhen’s touch percentage in the final third and penalty area has decreased over the last two seasons. But this shouldn’t discourage fans from giving him another try – he already boasts experience playing in European leagues as well as the potential to become one of Europe’s premier strikers with continued development.
Osimhen is set to return for Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations semifinal against South Africa on Wednesday despite an injury, providing much-needed reinforcement to their Super Eagles who were forced into starting an unfamiliar lineup against Equatorial Guinea due to several injuries. With plenty of quality options still available to coach Jose Peseiro, Osimhen’s return should provide much-needed help against South Africa on Wednesday.
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