Two Low Ranked team fights for a place at the AFCON Semi-Finals in a battle of Underdogs, Nigeria vs Angola Prediction.
Competition: Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) – Quarterfinals
Team: Nigeria vs Angola
Venue: Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan
Date: 02.02.2024. Kickoff: 18:00
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinals are starting with Nigeria and Angola. This AFCON is special because none of the teams in the quarterfinals made it this far last time in 2022. Both teams, Nigeria and Angola, want to make an impression, as this AFCON has been filled with upsets. They will play in a big stadium in Abidjan,Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, that holds 35,000 fans. Fans around the world can watch it on SkySports. Nigeria’s team, the Super Eagles, aims for their fourth title. Angola wants to keep scoring goals to win. Let us see what happens in this game.
NIGERIA: hoping to keep their impressive defensive record
Since January 14th, the Super Eagles have shone brightly, letting in only one goal. They now wear the crown of the best defense. Captain Ekong stands tall, guarding the goal with help from Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey. Nigerian fans, however, are biting their nails over the attack. Star player Victor Oshimen hustles hard but can’t seem to hit the net, even though he ruled the attack in the last face-off against Cameroon. Ademola Lookman is doing well, leading the team’s scores under defensive coach Jose Peseiro. Eyes are also on midfielder Alhassan Yusuf and goalie Stanley Nwabaii, who are likely to join the squad. What is the Nigerian team’s plan? Score more and keep Angola at bay.
Best Option
Nigeria vs Angola Prediction: Angola to win or Over 1.5 Goals
ANGOLA: looking to keep Scoring
Angola’s team has been netting more goals than Nigeria, smoothly sliding the ball past goalkeepers. Their AFCON 2024 journey kicked off with a strong 1-1 tie against the tough team, Algeria. Although their goal came from a penalty taken by the veteran 34-year-old Mabululu, they have consistently scored at least two goals in matches against Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Namibia in the round of 16. Gelson Dala and Mabululu, the dynamic duo with a total of seven goals, are Angola’s secret weapons. They are set to challenge Nigeria’s tight defense. This tournament, full of surprises and underdog victories, might just tilt in Angola’s favor. In their past encounters, Angola has always managed to score against Nigeria. Despite missing their key goalkeeper, Neblu, due to a suspension, backup Signori Antonio is ready to step up. Coach Soares Goncalves P.V. might stick to his successful 4-3-3 setup, which has kept opponents from scoring. Angola is ready to make a statement.
| STATS | NIGERIA | ANGOLA |
| H-2-H WINS | 3 WINS | 2 WINS |
| FORM | D-W-W-W | D-W-W-W |
| KEY PLAYER | VICTOR OSHI | GELSON DALA |
| TEAM INFORMATION (INJURED OR SUSPENSION) | WILLIAM TROOST-EKONG STANLEY NWABALI | NEBLU |
Expert Betting Tip
With big teams like Morocco, Egypt, and Senegal out, Nigeria now stands tall as a top favorite among the remaining underdogs. Nigeria’s solid defense is a wall that Angola’s strikers will try hard to tear down in this game. Angola likes to surprise teams with swift counter attacks, but that might not work against the disciplined Super Eagles’ defense. Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Frank Uzoho, is known for his sharp reflexes, which match the skills of his teammate Stanley Nwabali, but for his poor ball distribution and comportment. Angola might find some room to maneuver in Nigeria’s midfield and goalkeeping (especially if Uzoho is the goalie). Nigeria enters this AFCON as the team to beat, and the odds are in their favor. Victor Oshimen is more likely to set up goals than score them, eyeing assists rather than personal glory. Ademola Lookman is pegged to be the one finding the net. Betting on Nigeria means expecting them to control the game’s tempo. It is likely to be a tight match, with less than 3.5 goals scored by the final whistle.
