CHAN preview: Pacy Eagles lock horns with resilient Palancas Negras
The home-based Super Eagles will Sunday evening square up against Angola in the fight for a semi-final place in the African Nations Championship.
Nigeria have always had it tough against the Angolans. Many are yet to forget the Palancas Negras team that truncated the country’s dream of playing at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Another memory that yet lingers is that of August 12, 1989, when late Samuel Okwaraji slumped and died on a day Nigeria won 1-0 against Angola. It was a very tense game and the late Stephen Keshi scored the lone goal.
Today’s game, which kicks off at 5pm, will definitely be another big challenge for the Eagles.
Nigeria topped Group C with seven points, scoring four goals, and conceding one. Despite making only their second CHAN quarter-final appearance, the Eagles are in the best form to nick their first title.
The trio of Anthony Okpotu, Ekundayo Ojo and Rabiu Ali found the back of the net in their victory over Equatorial Guinea. Salisu Yusuf, former Elkanemi Warriors gaffer, will hope they come to the party in today’s epic fixture.
Angola finished second in Group D with five points, scoring one goal, and keeping three clean sheets. Their major weapons are Landu Mavanga, Ricardo Job, Augusto Quibeto and Vladimir Felix.
Since their first meeting in 1981, Nigeria and Angola have won two games each and drawn five times in nine meetings.
Although the biennial CHAN is restricted to home-based footballers, matches carry full international status and count toward the monthly FIFA rankings.
Nigeria: Anticipated line-up (4-2-3-1)
Ezenwa, Okoro, Itodo, Atuloma, Orji, Eze, Ojo, Ali, Faleye, Okpotu, Ogbugh.
Angola: Anticipated line-up (4-2-1-3)
Landu, Mira, Nary, Wilson, Almeida, Paty, Herenilson, Job, Vladimir, Mano, Augusto
Prediction
Nigeria have pacy and dangerous players up front hence the Eagles will be getting the nod of most bookmakers for this quarter-final clash. However, the Palancas Negras are no pushover, as they are very disciplined in defence.
A tight affair is to be expected but Nigeria may most likely win by a narrow margin.
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