The coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Jose Peseiro, has said he and his boys are aware that the AFCON quarter-final match against Angola will be tougher than the Cameroon game.
Recall that Ademola Lookman scored both goals as Nigeria defeated old rivals Cameroon 2-0 on Saturday to march on to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Subsequently, Nigeria will now play Angola in the quarter-finals on February 2, as they hope to claim a fourth continental title after previous wins in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
However, while reacting to the 2-0 AFCON round-of-16 win at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Peseiro commended his players but noted that the boys have been given a two-day off before work resuming the preparation for the all-important quarterfinal clash with Angola.
“I think my players know that. We are playing with a fantastic spirit now, but we must be focused on the target and train more before the next match,” Peseiro said.
Reflecting on the individual performances of his players, Peseiro said that although Victor Osimhen did not score on Saturday, he had a fantastic game, saying it is very difficult to stop the in-form Napoli striker.
“He (Osimhen) is a fantastic player for our team, we have very good players, he will win the ball, hold play until our players arrive,” Peseiro said.
The Portuguese, however, revealed that it has not been easy for him to select his 11 players in every game.
Earlier, Gelson Dala raised his AFCON goal tally to four with a brace for 10-man Angola in a 3-0 last-16 triumph over Namibia in Bouake on Saturday.
Angola won a group ahead of Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and shock casualties Algeria when they were expected to finish third at best given an AFCON record of just four victories in 26 matches.
Nigeria will face Angola in the AFCON quarter-final on Friday, February 2, at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, 9 pm (Nigerian time).
(NAN)
