Coach of the Nigerian national team, Jose Peseiro, has said the Super Eagles will not underestimate the surprise team of the Africa Cup of Nations, Angola, in Friday’s quarter-final match.
Nigeria will take on an unpredictable Angola side in the opening fixture of the AFCON quarter-finals on Friday at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, as they bid to reach the last four for the first time since 2019.
“Angola are unpredictable with some very dangerous players. We cannot underestimate them. It’s a quarter-final match. Both teams want to reach the semi-finals. It will be a tough match; we will bring commitment and sacrifice to try to overcome this great team, even if it’s not a big name, to reach the semi-final.”
“Angola is not a big name in Africa, but they play very well. They are not here by luck; they have shown a lot of capability to reach the quarter-finals. Our team has scored 5 goals in 4 matches so far. We will attack with 11 and defend with 11 as well,” Peseiro stated this in a pre-match press conference.
On paper, three-time AFCON winners, Nigeria are expected to have the edge over their opponents. But the Palanca Negras of Angola will be full of confidence after surprisingly topping Group D unbeaten and reaching their first quarter-final since hosting the 2010 tournament.
Angola coach Pedro Gonçalves had this to say: “This match means a lot for our team and for the entire Angolan nation, which has dreamed for years of seeing the team at this stage of the competition.
“We will face Nigeria, a great nation in African football… This match is an opportunity to show our worth; we have worked and given our all to reach this level of the competition. We respect Nigeria but fear nobody. The pressure is on them as favourites.”
