Image: courtesy
Nigeria has become the first team to qualify for the Afcon semi-finals by beating Angola 1-0 in their quarter-final tie played Friday night.
The Super Eagles' goal came in the 41st minute of the game through Ademola Lookman.
Victor Osimhen's second-half goal was ruled out for offside.
Angola pressed on for an equaliser but a solid Nigerian defence kept the likes of the sensational attacking duo of Gelson Dala and Mabululu at bay ensuring they qualified for the next stage.
Nigeria boasts of arguably the best defence at the tournament hosted by Ivory Coast having conceded only one goal and registered barren draws against defending champions Senegal, Mali and Morocco.
Nigeria had 13 shots on goal against Angola's 10, three of which were on target for the Eagles while Angola had two.
The Palancas Negras lost the tie despite having the highest ball possession at 55 per cent and a higher pass accuracy of 84 per cent against Nigeria's 79 per cent.
Angola reached the quarters with an impressive record having scored nine goals and conceded only three in four matches.
On the converse, the Super Eagles have had an impressive run despite having had a slow start to their Afcon campaign by settling for a one-all draw in their opener against Equatorial Guinea.
However, Jose Peseiro's boys regained control and went on to win all three matches in a row to book the quarter-final clash against Angola.
The Super Eagles will now face either Cape Verde or South Africa in the semi-final.
Nigeria conceded seven corners in the game against Angola's four although the Palancas Negras committed more fouls (19) against Nigeria's 15.
The Democratic Republic of Congo will take on Guinea in the second quarter final clash.
Guinea are the only ones left standing from Group C.
They booked a place in the quarter-final thanks to Mohamed Bayo's stoppage-time winner against Equatorial Guinea.
DR Congo went through to the last eight despite having tied in all the four matches they have played at the end of regulation time.
The side coached by Sebastien Desabre needed a penalty shootout to beat seven-time AFCON champions Egypt in the Round of 16.
