By Orji Sampson
As the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON enters it’s quarter final tomorrow, no one could have predicted how wide open the Tournament could go so much so that’s favourites and the top African FIFA ranked teams like Morocco and Senegal will not go past round of 16.
With other casualties like Ghana, Cameroon, Tunisia and Algeria already exited from one of the most open AFCON in recent times, the Super Eagles will fancy their chances of recording their 4th title of the continental trophy.
Super Eagles will face the Palenca Negras of Angola in the first Quarter Finals at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium by 5pm Ivorian time (6pm) Nigerian time on Friday.
Nigerian players who have pocketed the whopping sum of $30,000 each for reaching the quarters will hope to have their goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali back to fitness after sustaining a kneel injury in their round of 16 game against rival, Cameroon.
Nigeria are now seen as favourites to win the trophy after they made easy work of Cameroon in the round of 16 stage.
Angola meanwhile, started slowly in the group stage but have built momentum although this will be their toughest test in the AFCON so far.
Nigeria last won the cup in 2013 in South Africa under the guidance of Late Stephen Keshi “The Boss”.
