Ademola Lookman's clinical first-half strike proved decisive as Nigeria edged Angola 1-0 in a tense quarter-final battle at the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations. Angola, riding high after their impressive group stage and last-16 victory over Namibia, started brightly, but found a determined Nigerian side difficult to crack. The first half was a tightly contested affair, with both teams creating chances. However, it was Lookman who stole the show in the 41st minute. A well-driven pass found Moses Simon on the left wing, who skipped past his marker and delivered a delightful cutback that Lookman met with a powerful finish. It was his third goal of the tournament, following his brace in the 2-0 round-of-16 win over Cameroon. Angola came out with renewed purpose in the second half, dominating possession and creating several opportunities. Their best chance fell to the Maccabi Haifa man in the 60th minute, but his shot hit the post, narrowly missing the equalizer. Nigeria also threatened, with Victor Osimhen finding the net, only to have his goal chalked off for offside by VAR. Despite their spirited efforts, Angola couldn't find a breakthrough, and the Super Eagles held on for a hard-fought victory. The southern African nation can be proud of their performance, but they ultimately fell short of their dream of reaching the semifinals. Nigeria, meanwhile, will be waiting with anticipation to see who they will face next. The winner of tomorrow's match between Cape Verde and South Africa will be their opponent in the semi-finals, where they will be aiming to secure their fourth AFCON title.