- A former Nigerian international, Felix Owolabi, has advised the Super Eagles to focus on playing cohesively against Angola
- Legit.ng reports that Nigeria face Angola in the quarter-final of the AFCON 2023 in Cote d`Ivoire
- According to Owalabi, everything will fall in place if Jose Peseiro’s side maintains a solid team spirit
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering sports and football.
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire - Former Nigerian international, Felix Owolabi, has told the Super Eagles to be cohesive if they truly intend to beat Angola in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final on Friday, February 2.
As reported by Vanguard newspaper, Owolabi stated that with a solid team spirit, the Super Eagles will move on to the next stage — the semifinal.
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AFCON 2023: "Why we lost to Super Eagles of Nigeria", Angola coach explains
Nigeria heads into the game after beating the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 2-0 in the round of 16, while Angola defeated Namibia 3-0.
Legit.ng reports that AFCON 2023 is being played in Ivory Coast.
Owolabi said:
"A solid team spirit will always beat any tactical formation. In my opinion, I believe once the boys understand themselves on the pitch, everything else falls into place.“If you check the Super Eagles, one will see that they didn’t play well in the group stage, but the more they have played, the more the players understand each other’s patterns.“As the competition progresses, so does their understanding of each other’s game. Playing cohesively as a team will always supersede any formation."Nigeria vs Angola: Expert’s prediction
Speaking to Legit.ng, Sulaimon Ndagi, a sports blogger, said the match will be “fiercely contested”.
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AFCON 2023: Angola coach Pedro Goncalves identifies Super Eagles' weaknesses
Ndagi noted that Nigeria and Angola are heading into the clash on the back of impressive victories in the round of 16.
He said:
“The upcoming match promises to be fiercely contested with both teams facing a challenging battle that might extend to extra time and penalties."Each team is entering the clash on the back of impressive victories in the round of 16 – Angola secured a 3-0 win against Namibia, while the Eagles triumphed over rivals Cameroon with a convincing 2-0 scoreline. The resilience displayed by both sides indicates that neither will yield easily."Angola's Portuguese manager, Soares Gonçalves, seems focused on reaching the final, showing confidence without underestimating the Eagles. He appears determined and unwilling to bow down easily.“Expectations are high for Nigeria's manager, Jose Peseiro, to formulate a strategic game plan similar to their successful approach against Cameroon, and to meticulously execute it in the upcoming match.”
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BREAKING: Official gives update on Super Eagles goalkeeper Nwabali's fitness ahead of Angola clash
More to read about AFCON 2023:
AFCON: Peseiro threatens to dismiss Eagles stars
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the head coach of the Nigerian senior national football team, Jose Peseiro, reportedly threatened to throw out any player who breaks camp rules.
The Portuguese is just one match away from achieving his key performance indicator (KPI) at the tournament.
Source: Legit.ng
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