By Michael Madyira
After arriving in Ivory Coast burdened by a series of negative results, Nigeria look set to prove their critics wrong.
They meet Angola in a round of 16 match at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Friday.
Nigeria are usually regarded as favourites before any major tournament but they had a difficult run-up to the ongoing Afcon.
Coming from behind at home to salvage a 1-1 draw with minnows Lesotho in a 2023 Fifa World Cup qualifier, before another 1-1 comeback draw with Zimbabwe in neutral Rwanda, gave a hint that the Super Eagles were a team deep in crisis.
They were then beaten 2-0 by Guinea in an international friendly just before the Afcon tournament, which they kicked off by drawing 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea.
That saw Nigeria discounted as one of the tournament favourites.
But they are now in the quarter-finals after upsetting hosts Ivory Coast 1-0 and Guinea Bissau 1-0 in their other two Group A matches.
Knocking out Cameroon in the round of 16 has seen the Super Eagles being mentioned as likely tournament winners.
“For the next match, we’re going to score,” manager José Peseiro told the media.
“We need to score goals, but it’s a difficult tournament. We deserve to reach the first position because, against Equatorial Guinea, we created many chances, but we didn’t score. Equatorial Guinea did not beat us, they drew with us.
“I’m happy about that, and I’ll wait for the next match. It’s not easy to win one match in this competition. It’s not easy.”
Now they will come up against Angola, who have been quietly doing their business after reaching the knockouts.
Palancas Negras reached this tournament stage after finishing top of Group D with two wins and a draw.
Pictured above: Nigeria players celebrating.
Image source: Super Eagles
