The home-based Super Eagles fought back from a goal down to beat Angola 2-1 after extra-time in the quarter-finals of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in Tangier, Morocco on Sunday.
This is the second time the home-based Eagles will be making it to the semi-final since their debut in 2014 in South Africa where they finished third.
Vladimir Va’s goal looked to be enough to send Angola through but Anthony Okpotu scored a late goal to send the game into extra-time.
And in second half extra-time, Ikechukwu Gabriel scored the winner to send Nigeria into the last four.
The Home Eagles should have taken the lead just seconds into the game through last season’s Nigeria Professional Football League top scorer Okpotu, who was played through on goal and was one-on-one with the Angolan keeper Mavanga Landu but lost his footing.
In the seventh minute, Emeka Ogbugh went close for the Eagles but his effort was saved by the Angolan keeper at the near post.
A minute later, the Eagles went close again this time through Emeka Atuloma whose header from a corner went just wide after the Angolan keeper failed to deal with a corner.
The Eagles were forced into an early change on 14 minutes as Orji Kalu went off injured and was replaced by Timothy Danladi.
Angola had their first attempt on goal a minute later through Braullo Nary but his header from a corner went just over the bar.
In the 19th minute, the Angolans broke on the left but Stephen Eze made a superb clearance for a corner.
In the 30th minute, Angola almost took the lead following a superb strike by Calesso Mano inside the box but Ikechukwu Ezenwa produced a brilliant save as he tipped the shot over the bar.
Angola should have taken the lead on 35 minutes through Mano after he was played through on goal but Ezenwa made two brilliant saves to deny the Angolan forward.
On the stroke of half-time, Okpotu should have opened the scoring after the Angolan keeper missed a cross only for his effort cleared off the line.
