Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-02 03:10:35
Nigeria’s Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has been cleared to participate in today’s quarterfinal match against Angola, as confirmed by team officials.
However, Coach Jose Peseiro has expressed hesitation in risking Nwabali’s participation if he is not fully fit for the game.
The winner of this quarterfinal match will proceed to face the winner of the clash between Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the semifinal at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.
The match will be officiated by Senegalese referee Issa Sy at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.
His team of officials will include Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura from Senegal as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2, Abdal Aziz Bouh from Mauritania as fourth official, and Modibo Samake from Mali as reserve assistant referee, with Ahmad Nazeer Hossen Bowud from Mauritius and Ali Mohamed Ahmed from Somalia taking on the roles of commissioner and referee assessor respectively.
The game is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. Cote d’Ivoire time (6:00 p.m. Nigerian time) and marks a rare matchup between Nigeria and Angola at the senior level.
Nigeria has a history of close encounters with Angola, having narrowly defeated them in the final round of the qualification series for the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals (2-2 in Luanda and 1-0 in Lagos).
However, Angola managed to secure their first and only appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals by defeating Nigeria 1-0 in Luanda and holding the Eagles to a 1-1 draw in Kano during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification series.
This quarterfinal clash between Nigeria and Angola holds great significance, as both teams vie for a spot in the semifinals of the tournament.
The Super Eagles aim to secure a victory and advance towards the final stages of the competition, while Angola seeks to overcome Nigeria and continue its quest for success in the tournament.
As the match approaches, fans and supporters eagerly anticipate an exhilarating and hard-fought battle between these two African football powerhouses.
With both teams showcasing their determination and skill, the stage is set for an enthralling encounter at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.
