Sports
Hour of the Antelopes: How we will beat Nigeria — Angola coach
Is it going to be an hour for the ‘Antelopes’ or the hour of the ‘Eagles’?
The AFCON quarter final is set to pit the Black Antelopes of Angola against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, in what might be yet another dramatic African Cup of Nations tie after the teams scaled past their respective opponents in the Round of 16 ties.
It is either going to be the hour of the ‘Eagles’ or the hour of the ‘Antelopes’ if both teams hope to force their way into the Semi-Final of the tournament.
For Angola head coach, Pedro Goncalves, the 90-minutes of the tie could see them worrying about the threats of the Nigerian team who he identified as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman ahead of the quarter-final clash.
Osimhen and Lookman played pivotal roles in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory against Cameroon, with Lookman earning the Man of the Match title and scoring twice, while Osimhen provided an assist.
Goncalves acknowledged the talent and playing capacity of the Nigerian duo, emphasizing their speed and ability to add significant dynamism to the game.
Speaking to Sapo Desportovo, Goncalves mentioned,
“Osimhen and Lookman, who, in fact, add great vertigo to the game.”
The anticipated quarter-final match between the Super Eagles and Angola is scheduled to take place at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Friday.
In preparation for the crucial encounter, players of the Angola national team have received cash rewards and material gifts. Banco Angolano de Investimento (BAI) granted five million Kwanzas (approximately N5.41 million) to each Angola player and coaching staff for advancing to the quarter-finals.
Additionally, Aguinaldo Jaime, the President of the Board of Directors of UNITEL, gifted each member of the Angolan delegation an iPhone 15, complete with complimentary calls, SMS, and free internet for a year.
SODIAM EP has pledged a substantial US$250,000 (equivalent to N225 million) reward if the team manages to defeat the Super Eagles in the quarter-final encounter.
Pedro Goncalves acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by the Super Eagles, describing Nigeria as a “colossus of African football” with numerous quality players in European leagues.
Despite Nigeria’s earlier difficulties in the AFCON, Goncalves recognized the undeniable talent within the squad, especially those playing in prestigious leagues such as the Premier League, Italian league, and Portuguese league.
The Black Antelopes have displayed impressive form in the ongoing AFCON, winning three out of four games.
Their convincing 3-0 victory against Namibia in the Round of 16 secured them a quarter-final clash with the Super Eagles, promising a highly anticipated encounter at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
