Nigeria have become the first team to book their place in the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) in the Ivory Coast.
This follows the Super Eagles’ hard-fought 1-0 victory over Angola at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Friday, February 2.
Ademola Lookman’s first-half strike was the difference between the two teams in what was a highly competitive game.
Praise for match-winner Lookman from Super Eagles fans
The Atalanta winger was once again the hero, just as he was against Cameroon in the round of 16, scoring his third goal of the tournament.
Lookman applied a first-time finish to Moses Simon’s cross to give Nigeria the lead in the 41st minute and the Super Eagles would hold on to claim an important victory that sealed their place in the last four.
The 26-year-old is currently the toast of Nigeria supporters, many of whom have taken to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to shower praise on him.
Super Eagles going all the way
For other fans, though, the win over Angola has heightened their hopes of seeing Nigeria win a fourth continental crown.
The Super Eagles last won the AFCON in 2013 and disappointingly exited the tournament's last edition at the group stage.
However, Jose Peseiro and his charges have so far lived up to expectations in Ivory Coast, having gone unbeaten from the group phase.
They have also conceded just one goal, which came in their opening Group A match against Equatorial Guinea, and have since kept clean sheets in each of their last four games.
Many Nigerian fans on social media foresee the team going all the way and have tipped them to win this year’s AFCON.
The renewed optimism can be spotted in the fanfare being shared by fans across various social media platforms.
Nigeria take on the winner between South Africa and Cape Verde on 7 February, with the victors securing a spot in the AFCON final.
