AFCON 2023 Day 17 Reviews: Desabre, Peseiro guide Leopards, Super Eagles to semifinals in Cote d’Ivoire 

(Made In Africa Sport) – The Super Eagles of Nigeria qualified as the first semifinalists in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, as they continued their title by adding Angola to their conquered list. The Nigerians were in cruise control of the game as always, balancing their stellar defending with a lethal attack system and eventually sealing a 1 – 0 win over the Sable Antelopes to progress to the semi-finals. 

The Angolans were unlucky not to take the lead in the 3rd minute, as star forward Agostinho Mabululu latched on to Gilberto’s header only to see his tap-in saved just in time by the Nigerian goalie Stanley Nwabali. The rest of the first half saw the Super Eagles dominate proceedings, as Moses Simon’s runs and crosses were most threatening. Victor Osihmen got on the end of one of such crosses but couldn’t get much from it despite his dangerous positioning. 

It was another brilliant moment from Moses Simon that unlocked the Angolan defence in the 41st minute, as the winger drove forward on the left from an almost loose ball to find Super Eagles top scorer Ademola Lookman who did the rest with a sweetly struck first-time finish to break the deadlock for Nigeria. The players took off in the second half from where they left things off, as the Sable Antelopes got a shot denied by the upright in the 58th minute, but the Nigerian defence held off nicely throughout the second period. 

Victor Osihmen looked to have doubled the advantage for the Nigerians in the 75th minute, but he was deemed offside before planting an unstoppable header in the top right corner. The strike was called into action later on in the 80th minute, but his shot was blocked by the determined Angolan defence. Tito Luvumbo had his chance to make things interesting in the 88th minute, as the Angolan winger curled a left footer destined for the top left, but the capable hands of Stanley Nwabali were enough to keep the scoreline intact and send Nigeria through to the semis. 

DR Congo were next on the semifinalist board, as they recorded a win for the first time in the AFCON 2023 over the National Elephants of Guinea. While the Leopards have not won a game in regular time in Cote d’Ivoire, they have been threatening right from the group stages and were favourites going into the quarterfinals. The National Elephants took the early lead in the 20th minute, as Mohammed Bayo maintained his composure to send Lionel Mpasi the wrong way. The goal came after Guinea went close to scoring in the first minute, as Mpasi saved Morgan Guilavogui’s attempt to ease the pressure.

Arthur Masuaku’s set-pieces were a cause of much trouble during the match, as his corner kick six minutes after the Guineans’ opener found Chancel Mbemba who roofed his finish into the back of the net to restore parity. Masuaku delivered another beautiful cross from a free-kick just before halftime, but no one in the box could connect with it and halftime saw the two teams settle for a draw. 

DR Congo substitute Silas Mvumpa won a penalty in the second half for the Leopards, giving Yoane Wissa a chance to put them in the lead. The match picked up pace from there on, and Arthur Masuaku capped a dominant second half with a beauty of a freekick goal, another one of his lovely set-pieces that set the Alassane Ouattara stadium alight on Friday night. 

The National Elephants tried to pull off late dramatic scenes, but it was definitely too late to get a result as the Leopards of DR Congo stepped into the semis for the first time since 2015 where they lost to eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire but won the third-place game against Equatorial Guinea. The Leopards could be set for another fixture with the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, as the AFCON 2023 hosts go up against Mali today in their charge for a third continental trophy.

The scenes are getting tenser, more emotional, and the game is getting more erratic. Football at its rawest continues today, as Cote d’Ivoire take on Mali, and Cape Verde sweat it out with South Africa. 

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶-𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀. ✅
𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄’𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶-𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀. ⏳

As for now, it stands like this. 📋#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/qaVb6FqhO7

— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 2, 2024