Africa Football Discussion || Current Topic: Worldcup qualifiers - CAF.

[Stepstowealth]

Due to their extreme strength, Super Eagle is expected to be the fortunate nation with the best chance of winning the AFCON trophy. However, we have witnessed "a formidable team losing" in the matches, therefore I am unable to give a 100% mark for Super Eagle to be the champions of AFCON 2024.

It will not be a big surprise if the Super Eagles fail to win their game tomorrow at this time and level in the competition. Angola play very well and still want to make the record of winning this competition. To them, the Super Eagles are just in the path. The good news for the super eagles and all of us that were worried when the goalkeeper Nwabali was replaced, the news is that he will be fit to play in the game after being active in training today.

https://dailypost.ng/2024/02/01/afcon-2023-nwabali-cleared-to-face-angola/

Angola have a high scoring record in this competition with nine goals to their name and Nigeria has a very good defense with the record of just conceding one goal so far. It will be a win for Nigeria if they can attack well and score as much as they defend, and for Angola to win if they can defend as well as they score goals.

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[KTChampions]

As a result, the quarterfinal pairings turned out to be as random as possible:

Nigeria - Angola                  1.69 - 3.53 - 5.19

Congo - Guinea                   2.35 - 2.84 - 3.38

Mali - Ivory coast                3.68 - 2.88 - 2.21

Cape Verde - South Africa    2.69 - 2.86 - 2.84

We literally have one favorite, and the rest of the teams have a ~40% chance of winning at best. I think it makes sense to bet on a draw in all games except the first, the team, exhausted in the 1/8 finals, is unlikely to take much risk in games with equal opponents, especially when there are two steps left to the title. It might even be worth betting on the exact score 0-0 and 1-1.

According to the odds from the betting platforms, Nigeria is the only team with fewer odds, which makes them the favorites in this round of eight. But we have seen how the competition has been so far; many teams we expected to have been in this stage have been eliminated, and only a few make it to this stage, which shows that anything can happen even though experience will take over hard work in these stages of the competition.

AFCON this year is interesting to watch. Many countries have stepped up their performance to prove to the world that there will be no separate teams or countries that will be ruling African football. This is a good sign of development in African football.

I am hoping that the Nigerian Super Eagles will be able to make it the semi-finals by defeating Angola, because the Angola players have already received so many gifts from different places just to encourage them to beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria, but I am sure the Super Eagles are also making all the basic preparations for the match, nevertheless, lets wait and see what the match result brings.

Maybe the tournament has really become more diverse/even, but when I see such a composition of participants in the quarter-finals, I begin to get some analogies with the Europa League and even the Conference League.
Nigeria is the only favorite. There is also the Ivory Coast which have already won the African Cup and regularly played in the finals. I would probably like to see this couple in the final so that there would be no doubts about the status of the tournament.

[Pokapoka124]

With almost all the big teams like Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, and Senegal out of the tournament, Nigeria is the current highest ranked team in the tournament. We are the Brazil of African football. Everyone wants to beat us, it seems we have a target on our back.

Well this is a sad one for the Super Eagles because losing two key players is not what the Nigeria team can afford right now,  and to be sincere with you,  anything that makes the Nigeria team to perform lesser in the tonight's match,  it will have a huge negative impact on the team overall performance for the remaining days of the tournament,  this is very important and since this guys have been performing near average lately,  it is advisable to keep that steady pest if not there may slide out completely.

I thought they had gone through all possible drug tests before the start of this league,  am saddened to hear this that the two most active front-liners are off the team tonight.

How’s this something to be sad about? All Nigerian players passed the drug tests so no harm done. I don’t know what you’re whining about. None of the strikers are off the team. It seems you have a wrong understanding of the situation.

[Oluwa-btc]

3 of our best players went for drug test and to be sincere with you I was surprised with this movement. Is it that CAF is looking for a way to make Nigeria lose our next game? Thank God V. Osimhen, Simon Moses and Troost-Ekong all tested negative and these are key players that we really need in this game against Angola, I don't know what they're planning against the Super Eagles. Another problem is our goalkeeper who was injured in our last game against Cameroon and I pray by tomorrow we'd hear a positive news because I honestly don't want Uzoho to be in that goalpost 😁.

Well this is a sad one for the Super Eagles because losing two key players is not what the Nigeria team can afford right now,  and to be sincere with you,  anything that makes the Nigeria team to perform lesser in the tonight's match,  it will have a huge negative impact on the team overall performance for the remaining days of the tournament,  this is very important and since this guys have been performing near average lately,  it is advisable to keep that steady pest if not there may slide out completely.

I thought they had gone through all possible drug tests before the start of this league,  am saddened to hear this that the two most active front-liners are off the team tonight.

Well we can't just conclude that the drug test was a plot by CAF to kick Nigeria out of the competition, they are the organisers of the tournament and they have every right to conduct such test in a case  where the suspect the Nigerian players, same thing happened with Paul Pogba at Juventus, so does it mean that the Serie A football body plotted that to deprive Juventus of one of their star player? My answer is NO. Well luckily for the Nigerian players, they were drug free and that's a good news to the team.

 However, too bad they might be without their goalie against Angola on friday. Uzoho is an important player for the Super Eagles and things coul turn out bad for them if he isn't fit to start and his replacement is not very good. Angola is a team that's not to be toiled with, they could be very dangerous and they already proved it by getting to this stage of the tournament.

Have you seen the fee to be offered to every single player in that Angola squad if they get to beat Nigeria? It's worth over 300 million naira if converted to the local Nigerian currency. Bloody hell, that fee is enough motivation for those players. Bank of Angola has triggered them the right way but now they  have to show working on the pitch if they must get all of that reward.
Having that goalkeeper ready and fit is a plus for Nigeria National Team, we have a good defense we can boast of definitely and they'll do them job tommorow.
My everyday issues goes with the midfielder's of the game I hope to see them understand themselves and play a decent game for the fans. They deserve the trophy.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

As a result, the quarterfinal pairings turned out to be as random as possible:

Nigeria - Angola                  1.69 - 3.53 - 5.19

Congo - Guinea                   2.35 - 2.84 - 3.38

Mali - Ivory coast                3.68 - 2.88 - 2.21

Cape Verde - South Africa    2.69 - 2.86 - 2.84

Some really unfancied teams have made it this far. I did not predict the likes of Senegal, Morocco and Egypt or even Algeria to get knocked out before the 1/4 finals.

I guess every dog has its day. It’s time for somebody else to become Kings Of Africa. It’d be a beautiful story if Cape Verde could do it, they are such a small country, it’d be a great story.

[buwaytress]

Aye LFC_Bitcoin, let's hope the remaining "favourite" falls (sorry Igebotz) so we can have a true mix of "anyone can win it" in the semis. I know Ivory Coast feels like a fav but they're a shadow of the team they were. Cape Verde, all them Portuguese bitcointalk members could be secretly betting on them?

Have you seen the fee to be offered to every single player in that Angola squad if they get to beat Nigeria? It's worth over 300 million naira if converted to the local Nigerian currency. Bloody hell, that fee is enough motivation for those players. Bank of Angola has triggered them the right way but now they  have to show working on the pitch if they must get all of that reward.

Surely without the fee they'd be already max motivated! I even wonder if it makes them less focused ha

[KTChampions]

As a result, the quarterfinal pairings turned out to be as random as possible:

Nigeria - Angola                  1.69 - 3.53 - 5.19

Congo - Guinea                   2.35 - 2.84 - 3.38

Mali - Ivory coast                3.68 - 2.88 - 2.21

Cape Verde - South Africa    2.69 - 2.86 - 2.84

Some really unfancied teams have made it this far. I did not predict the likes of Senegal, Morocco and Egypt or even Algeria to get knocked out before the 1/4 finals.

I guess every dog has its day. It’s time for somebody else to become Kings Of Africa. It’d be a beautiful story if Cape Verde could do it, they are such a small country, it’d be a great story.

Nigeria and the Ivory Coast can completely break this picture if they end up in the finals. Ivory Coast have regularly played in African Cup finals so the Nigeria - Ivory Coast final will be a "standard" one (at least on paper, even though they don't have the strongest team).

Aye LFC_Bitcoin, let's hope the remaining "favourite" falls (sorry Igebotz) so we can have a true mix of "anyone can win it" in the semis. I know Ivory Coast feels like a fav but they're a shadow of the team they were. Cape Verde, all them Portuguese bitcointalk members could be secretly betting on them?
~

I am more interested in the question of whether the bookmakers suffered from such a fall of favorites or were able to hedge on players (as always). Such randomness of results was both predictable and not.

[Mate2237]

Some really unfancied teams have made it this far. I did not predict the likes of Senegal, Morocco and Egypt or even Algeria to get knocked out before the 1/4 finals.

I guess every dog has its day. It’s time for somebody else to become Kings Of Africa. It’d be a beautiful story if Cape Verde could do it, they are such a small country, it’d be a great story.

The teams that have left the scene are the normal teams from the onset not the African Cup of Nations except few teams that follow them so the remaining teams are still strong teams and the new team that I am seeing in this tournament is Cape Verde which is a surprise to me till now. And that team is one of the predicting team to win the tournament. If Cape Verde wins this cup then Super Stars will be disappointed.

[Ndabagi01]

As a result, the quarterfinal pairings turned out to be as random as possible:

Nigeria - Angola                  1.69 - 3.53 - 5.19

Congo - Guinea                   2.35 - 2.84 - 3.38

Mali - Ivory coast                3.68 - 2.88 - 2.21

Cape Verde - South Africa    2.69 - 2.86 - 2.84

We literally have one favorite, and the rest of the teams have a ~40% chance of winning at best. I think it makes sense to bet on a draw in all games except the first, the team, exhausted in the 1/8 finals, is unlikely to take much risk in games with equal opponents, especially when there are two steps left to the title. It might even be worth betting on the exact score 0-0 and 1-1.

This odds have a lot to say, and they were given to the team that is most likely to get out of this stage with a good chance of qualifying, which is Nigeria. The odds for the other teams are unclear, and it is impossible to determine which team has a better chance of winning than the others. However, these are all speculations based on what each team has demonstrated in this competition thus far. For the competition, every team that wants to advance to the next round must put in the effort to defeat their opponents in the quarterfinals. Tomorrow, the quarterfinals will begin, and the competition has been very unpredictable, with lower teams eliminating bigger teams which we least expected in the competition.

[Obim34]

3 of our best players went for drug test and to be sincere with you I was surprised with this movement. Is it that CAF is looking for a way to make Nigeria lose our next game? Thank God V. Osimhen, Simon Moses and Troost-Ekong all tested negative and these are key players that we really need in this game against Angola, I don't know what they're planning against the Super Eagles. Another problem is our goalkeeper who was injured in our last game against Cameroon and I pray by tomorrow we'd hear a positive news because I honestly don't want Uzoho to be in that goalpost 😁.

Well this is a sad one for the Super Eagles because losing two key players is not what the Nigeria team can afford right now,  and to be sincere with you,  anything that makes the Nigeria team to perform lesser in the tonight's match,  it will have a huge negative impact on the team overall performance for the remaining days of the tournament,  this is very important and since this guys have been performing near average lately,  it is advisable to keep that steady pest if not there may slide out completely.

I thought they had gone through all possible drug tests before the start of this league,  am saddened to hear this that the two most active front-liners are off the team tonight.

Well we can't just conclude that the drug test was a plot by CAF to kick Nigeria out of the competition, they are the organisers of the tournament and they have every right to conduct such test in a case  where the suspect the Nigerian players, same thing happened with Paul Pogba at Juventus, so does it mean that the Serie A football body plotted that to deprive Juventus of one of their star player? My answer is NO. Well luckily for the Nigerian players, they were drug free and that's a good news to the team.

 However, too bad they might be without their goalie against Angola on friday. Uzoho is an important player for the Super Eagles and things coul turn out bad for them if he isn't fit to start and his replacement is not very good. Angola is a team that's not to be toiled with, they could be very dangerous and they already proved it by getting to this stage of the tournament.

Have you seen the fee to be offered to every single player in that Angola squad if they get to beat Nigeria? It's worth over 300 million naira if converted to the local Nigerian currency. Bloody hell, that fee is enough motivation for those players. Bank of Angola has triggered them the right way but now they  have to show working on the pitch if they must get all of that reward.
Having that goalkeeper ready and fit is a plus for Nigeria National Team, we have a good defense we can boast of definitely and they'll do them job tommorow.
My everyday issues goes with the midfielder's of the game I hope to see them understand themselves and play a decent game for the fans. They deserve the trophy.

I don't know why I keep seeing this people like a big threat to us, the one certification I get as of we winning this match is just on our strong defense line, at least for them scoring should be a hard nut to crack but our forward is not yet on their best performance and we are expecting something different from them in this next match, a draw should not be any option, cos ending in penalty does not guarantee our chances of win.

[Hewlet]

It's team Nija all the way oh!
Another moment don come when we go show say na we be the giant of Africa oh

Abeg if una get link when person fit use watch this match live make una share am abeg.

We know as light matter de be, e fit be this evening them go decide not to bring am, make man for fit watch this match abeg

[Die_empty]

I don't know why I keep seeing this people like a big threat to us, the one certification I get as of we winning this match is just on our strong defense line, at least for them scoring should be a hard nut to crack but our forward is not yet on their best performance and we are expecting something different from them in this next match, a draw should not be any option, cos ending in penalty does not guarantee our chances of win.

I don't think the Super Eagles will have a comfortable win over the Sable antelopes. Nigeria has proved to have a very strong defence that has conceived just one goal but Angola has an attack that could be a threat to the Super Eagles. They can shoot long shots and this is the quality that other past opponents of the Nigerian side have lacked. Such long-range shots could rattle any goalkeeper but the team is also fortunate that Stanley Nwabali has been cleared to feature in today's game. But I hope he has fully recovered and is not on any pain reliever just to put him on the goalposts. It will be better to have a fit Francis Uzoho than an injured Nwabaki.

But if Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi continue with their great defensive play, they could limit these Angolian strikers from taking these dangerous long-range shots. Nigerians are indeed the favourite but it will not be an easy game for them because we have encountered many surprises in this nation's cups that should be a lesson that no team should be underrated.

[Sexylizzy2813]

Today's the beginning of a rough trip to the finals and I believe the Super Eagles are going to show a positive side that we haven't seen in this competition, they're going to play a better football that we're going to applaud them.
The last game the Eagles played we all saw how badly they went about business but this game against Angola would be a correction for the last game they played out 2-0, we all know that the Eagles would have scored more than those 2 goals, it was disappointing to me.
I just hope those officiating today's game won't be that biased, the officiating should be transparent. I believe that if the Eagles get past Angola today nothing is stopping us from getting to the finals (it should be against Ivory Coast) and winning it, this is our time.
 

[Zigabel]

I don't think the Super Eagles will have a comfortable win over the Sable antelopes. Nigeria has proved to have a very strong defence that has conceived just one goal but Angola has an attack that could be a threat to the Super Eagles. They can shoot long shots and this is the quality that other past opponents of the Nigerian side have lacked. Such long-range shots could rattle any goalkeeper but the team is also fortunate that Stanley Nwabali has been cleared to feature in today's game. But I hope he has fully recovered and is not on any pain reliever just to put him on the goalposts. It will be better to have a fit Francis Uzoho than an injured Nwabaki.

But if Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi continue with their great defensive play, they could limit these Angolian strikers from taking these dangerous long-range shots. Nigerians are indeed the favourite but it will not be an easy game for them because we have encountered many surprises in this nation's cups that should be a lesson that no team should be underrated.

Actually it doesn't have to be a comfortable win but what's most important is a win, be it a comfortable one or an uncomfortable win, if the eagles win they are proceeding to the semi finals a d that's what matters the most at the end of the day. There's no way we will be saying it's better to have Uzoho than having nwabali because the difference is clear in the last few minutes against Cameroon where Uzoho did played we saw that he was one to relay on at all because he doesn't look promising to be able to man the post well enough but rather looks like he may cause some blunders if he is allowed to play full time.

The eagles defense line is actually dependable and that's their  fortress for now but they will still need that excellent touch of a good keeper at the post just should Incase the defense line is breached they can still be sure of safety to a large extent.

[Promocodeudo]

Today's the beginning of a rough trip to the finals and I believe the Super Eagles are going to show a positive side that we haven't seen in this competition, they're going to play a better football that we're going to applaud them.
The last game the Eagles played we all saw how badly they went about business but this game against Angola would be a correction for the last game they played out 2-0, we all know that the Eagles would have scored more than those 2 goals, it was disappointing to me.
I just hope those officiating today's game won't be that biased, the officiating should be transparent. I believe that if the Eagles get past Angola today nothing is stopping us from getting to the finals (it should be against Ivory Coast) and winning it, this is our time.
 

Judging with previous meeting between this two in 2018  won angola in nations cup qualifiers that ended 2:1 in favour of nigeria, the same 2018 both team met and they played 1:1 draw in the world cup qualifier that's to say that this match is going to be an interesting one, both teams are going to dig it out, none of these team is ready to give up for each other but the truth is that despite good angola seems to be, I that Nigeria is going to give them a good fight, at this point Nigeria is ready for anything, talking about the last officiating of Nigerian match it was a bit heartbreaking but what can we say that's football for you, these things happens, but we believe that today will be better.

[Hewlet]

Today's the beginning of a rough trip to the finals and I believe the Super Eagles are going to show a positive side that we haven't seen in this competition, they're going to play a better football that we're going to applaud them.
The last game the Eagles played we all saw how badly they went about business but this game against Angola would be a correction for the last game they played out 2-0, we all know that the Eagles would have scored more than those 2 goals, it was disappointing to me.
I just hope those officiating today's game won't be that biased, the officiating should be transparent. I believe that if the Eagles get past Angola today nothing is stopping us from getting to the finals (it should be against Ivory Coast) and winning it, this is our time.
 

Before the last match, so many analysts came up with strategies that would give the supper Eagles a great win against the Cameroonian side with talk about the cameroonian being to strong and that if the super eagles expected a win from that match they should calm the tempo of the game as it it certain that they are not as energetic as the cameroonian players and would be at a serious disadvantage if they attempt running like them.

The reverse was the case when he match started because the eagles didn't give them any breathing space unlike what so many analyst speculated and at the end of the day winning was secured.

What we need now is just a win and regardless of how they go about achieving that, it's not all that necessary. African football hasn't gotten to the stage were you play fancy football and expect to use it to win matches. To win a match in his afcon you just need to score more goals than your opponent and that's just it. Senegal and most big team's that have been sent out of the tournament played very well but they are all spectators that are just watching and monitoring the match from a distance at the moment so we don't want to be like them. We want to go to the field, play our thing the way we know how to do it and get a win for our country. Shikina. 

[Fivestar4everMVP]

Today's the beginning of a rough trip to the finals and I believe the Super Eagles are going to show a positive side that we haven't seen in this competition, they're going to play a better football that we're going to applaud them.
The last game the Eagles played we all saw how badly they went about business but this game against Angola would be a correction for the last game they played out 2-0, we all know that the Eagles would have scored more than those 2 goals, it was disappointing to me.
I just hope those officiating today's game won't be that biased, the officiating should be transparent. I believe that if the Eagles get past Angola today nothing is stopping us from getting to the finals (it should be against Ivory Coast) and winning it, this is our time.
 

Judging with previous meeting between this two in 2018  won angola in nations cup qualifiers that ended 2:1 in favour of nigeria, the same 2018 both team met and they played 1:1 draw in the world cup qualifier that's to say that this match is going to be an interesting one, both teams are going to dig it out, none of these team is ready to give up for each other but the truth is that despite good angola seems to be, I that Nigeria is going to give them a good fight, at this point Nigeria is ready for anything, talking about the last officiating of Nigerian match it was a bit heartbreaking but what can we say that's football for you, these things happens, but we believe that today will be better.

Yeah, today's match is one I can afford to missed, since we all know how our country Nigeria is at the moment in term of economy, I am already getting set to go get fuel to power my generator just incase PHCN refuse to give us light.

With how the Nigerian team managed to beat Cameroon in few days ago, I am most confident that the supers eagle again are ready to make us proud once again, I've never been this excited about a football match before, so, I am hoping that the excitement will be a general thing for every Nigerian come tomorrow morning.

But again, I am not going to underestimate the Angola team, they possibly would have prepared themselves very for this match judging from their previous encounters with Nigeria, but again, I am very confident that Nigeria will win.

[Zanab247]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a finale between Nigeria and Ivory Coast?  I think it would definitely.  

Ivory Coast were the winner of 2015 AFCON while Nigeria became champions in the 2013 one. It has been a long while for both teams since then. Nigeria have great attackers in the squad Osimhen being at top. Boniface is missing the games due to injury but there are so many alternatives. Ivory Coast also have decent players in multiple positions. Both of them should be able to show their quality unless there is some surprise to be seen.

But after seeing many big favourites are out already it is really hard to be sure of something.  

If Nigeria and ivory coast meet for final in this tournament, just no that Nigeria will win the trophy because they show some improvement in their first leg that made Nigeria to achieved victory from them and, it will still give Nigeria players the confidence that they have won before and they will still win again to lift the trophy if it will be possible for the two teams to meet in the final.

Now that some strong teams has out from the tournament, I guess it will give opportunity to Nigeria and ivory coast to meet for final if they can utilize their opportunity well to beat their opponent which I know that Nigeria will come out Victoria to disgrace Angola 3:1 in today game.

[QueenVera]

Before the last match, so many analysts came up with strategies that would give the supper Eagles a great win against the Cameroonian side with talk about the cameroonian being to strong and that if the super eagles expected a win from that match they should calm the tempo of the game as it it certain that they are not as energetic as the cameroonian players and would be at a serious disadvantage if they attempt running like them.

The reverse was the case when he match started because the eagles didn't give them any breathing space unlike what so many analyst speculated and at the end of the day winning was secured.

What we need now is just a win and regardless of how they go about achieving that, it's not all that necessary. African football hasn't gotten to the stage were you play fancy football and expect to use it to win matches. To win a match in his afcon you just need to score more goals than your opponent and that's just it. Senegal and most big team's that have been sent out of the tournament played very well but they are all spectators that are just watching and monitoring the match from a distance at the moment so we don't want to be like them. We want to go to the field, play our thing the way we know how to do it and get a win for our country. Shikina. 

I think the Nigeria team has now gotten to understand that this is a tournament and you don’t need to play a very fanciful game here in the tournament as you could get hit by a counter that could result in your elimination. That’s why you can see that they defend compactly and come to attack with the attackers taking the run. In the match against Cameroon they tried so hard to take on Cameroon with force from the 1st minute till the last and when they got the second goal to seal the win, they played their fanciful football. That’s one interesting thing about tournament football as it’s nust one leg and you should make sure to get the goals before entertaining the spectators.

 Understanding this and I believe they’ll get the win against Angola today and then let the Nigeria flag fly high and so high as then we’ll be considered as a title contender. You don’t have to entertain the fans and then pack your stuffs and leave because you got hit by a shocking mistake while trying to enjoy your football. That’s what most fans need to understand too and not complain that AFCON is boring.

[Chilwell]

Today's the beginning of a rough trip to the finals and I believe the Super Eagles are going to show a positive side that we haven't seen in this competition, they're going to play a better football that we're going to applaud them.
The last game the Eagles played we all saw how badly they went about business but this game against Angola would be a correction for the last game they played out 2-0, we all know that the Eagles would have scored more than those 2 goals, it was disappointing to me.
I just hope those officiating today's game won't be that biased, the officiating should be transparent. I believe that if the Eagles get past Angola today nothing is stopping us from getting to the finals (it should be against Ivory Coast) and winning it, this is our time.
 

I have hope for Nigeria to win this match if they can put more effort than the previous ones, I know it a good one we get to this points but sincerely speaking Nigeria do not play to my satisfaction but consider their victory to something of luck although all games are luck but still I don't think it a luck for a stronger team to win the weak team but a luck for a weak team to win against strong team, Nigeria have what it takes to win this trophy but I don't really know what is wrong with them.

Angola will be so eager to win and I know they are already distracted with the gifts and promises await them, as I knew African greediness will not let their victory happen because any will want is name up, Nigeria can easily take the advantage of the opportunity to win the match to qualify to the next stage of the tournament.