Nwabali aims to equal record held by Ogedegbe, Shorunmu; 7 other things to note on Nigeria starting XI

Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro has announced his starting lineup for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal clash against Angola at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, kickoff 1800 hours Nigerian time. 

Allnigeriasoccer.com's editorial staff  brings you eight things to note on the starting lineup to face the Palancas Negras. 

1) The average age of today's starting lineup is 26.91 years, with William Troost-Ekong the oldest at 30 years and154 days and Calvin Bassey the youngest at 24 years and 33 days. 

2) Two of the players named in the starting lineup are aged 25 and younger: Calvin Bassey and Victor Osimhen

3) Troost-Ekong is captaining the Super Eagles for the eighth time at the Africa Cup of Nations. In the seven previous games he wore the armband, Nigeria posted four clean sheets. 

4) Jose Peseiro is repeating the same starting lineup for the first time at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Portuguese used the formation in the 2-0 win versus Cameroon.

5) Seven of the starters have ties to English clubs. Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong are products of the Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur academy respectively, while Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Semi Ajayi (West Brom), Frank Onyeka (Brentford) and Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest) are currently on the books of English clubs. 

6) Victor Osimhen has not found the net in three consecutive matches at the Africa Cup of Nations - his longest goal drought for the national team since netting his first senior goal in September 2019.

7) Alex Iwobi and Troost-Ekong are the only two survivors of the starting lineup that beat South Africa 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. 

8) Stanley Nwabali is aiming to become the third Nigerian goalkeeper to keep four consecutive clean sheets at the Africa Cup of Nations after Best Ogedegbe in 1980 and Ike Shorunmu in 2002.

Nigeria's starting lineup v Angola: Nwabali; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey; Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Zaidu; Moses Simon, Lookman, Osimhen

Substitutes : Uzoho, Alhassan, Musa, Aribo, Chukwueze, Osayi-Samuel, Iheanacho, Onuachu, Awaziem, Omeruo, Moffi

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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