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Nigeria’s Moses Simon earned the Man of the Match accolade for his pivotal role in guiding the Super Eagles to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals with a 1-0 triumph over Angola.
Ademola Lookman secured the victory with a first-half goal, and Simon’s impressive cut-back set up the decisive play.
In a clash held in Abidjan, the former England U21 winger showcased his skills, converting Simon’s cut-back emphatically just four minutes before halftime. Simon, playing for Nantes, not only created two significant chances but also successfully completed three out of four dribbles attempted.
Despite the close 1-0 scoreline, Angola struggled to match Nigeria’s performance throughout the majority of the game. Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s striker, seemingly extended the lead with a 75th-minute header, but VAR intervened, ruling the goal out for offside.
Angola’s most promising opportunity came when Zine found himself one-on-one with the goal just before the hour mark, only to see his shot hit the base of the post.
With this triumph, Nigeria secures a spot in the semi-finals and eagerly anticipates the outcome of the quarter-final clash between Cape Verde and South Africa scheduled for Saturday at 20:00 GMT.
The stage is now set for an intriguing last-four encounter as the Super Eagles pursue the coveted 2023 AFCON title.