Jose Peseiro, the coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, has stated that he and his team are aware that the AFCON quarter-final encounter against Angola will be more difficult than the Cameroon game.
Ademola Lookman scored both goals as the Super Eagles defeated old rivals Cameroon 2-0 on Saturday, advancing to the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals.
The Super Eagles will face Angola in the quarterfinals on February 2, hoping to win their fourth continental title after victories in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
While speaking on the 2-0 AFCON round-of-16 triumph at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Peseiro complimented his players but stated that the boys have been given a two-day rest before 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 his players’ individual performances, Peseiro stated that, while Victor Osimhen did not score on Saturday, he had a terrific game and that stopping the in-form Napoli striker is quite difficult.
“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.
However, the Portuguese said that selecting his 11 players for each game has not been easy.
Earlier, Gelson Dala scored twice for 10-man Angola in a 3-0 last-16 win over Namibia in Bouake on Saturday, taking his AFCON goal count to four.
Angola won a group ahead of Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and surprise elimination Algeria, despite having only four victories in 26 AFCON matches.
The Super Eagles will meet Angola in the AFCON quarterfinals on Friday, February 2, at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan at 9 p.m. (Nigerian time).
