Former Chelsea ace, Eden Hazard has suggested that Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo is not a bigger player than him in terms of ‘pure football.’

Hazard also insisted that former Barcelona captain Lionel Messi still remains the greatest footballer.

Speaking recently with L’Equipe, Hazard said, “Individually, Messi is perhaps the only one. I loved watching the Barcelona player, less so at the end, but he is the greatest in history.

“It is impossible to take the ball away from him. Cristiano is a bigger player than me but, in terms of pure football, I honestly don’t think so. Neymar, maybe. After that, he’s no better than me.”

Hazard retired from football at the age of 32 last October.

Ronaldo and Messi are still playing at age 38 and 36, respectively.

The Super Eagles put up a professional performance to eke out a 1-0 win over surprise quarterfinalists Angola. A first half goal from Ademola Lookman, his third in the tournament, was all the Nigerians needed to book their place in the semi-final for the 16th time, where they will take on DR Congo or Guinea, who play the second quarterfinal later on Friday night.

Stanley Nwabali was fit enough to start in goal, and coach Jose Peseiro went with the same team that defeated Cameroon. Nwabali kept his fourth consecutive clean sheet to become the third Nigerian goalkeeper to keep four consecutive clean slates at the AFCON after Best Ogedegbe in 1980 and Ike Shorunmu in 2002.

The Eagles could have scored in the first minute with a loose ball in the Angola box, but Frank Onyeka’s shot was blocked after Ademola Lookman failed to get the ball on target. The Palancas Negras threatened immediately after through Agostinho Mabululu, but Nwabali diverted his shot for a corner kick.

In the 23rd minute, Osimhen threatened with a header, but Antonio Signori held on. The Napoli forward had another chance for a header in the 35th minute, but he glanced the ball out. Angola pushed back and won back-to-back corners in the 36th and 38th minutes.

And then Lookman struck. Moses Simon sped past Kialonda Gaspar, and with Osimhen’s run taking away other defenders, Lookman rifled the ball past Signori into the roof of the net. The Eagles created another goal-scoring chance in the third minute of added time in the first half, but Zaidu Sanusi dithered in the box and lost the opportunity to cross.

Nigeria had more ball possession in the first stanza, more shots on target, and comfortable control of the contest.

The second half saw Angola coach Soares Goncalves introduce Zini for Estrela as the Angolans sought new ways to breach the Eagles’ resilient defence. Osimhen teed up Alex Iwobi on the edge of the Angola box, but his shot was blocked for a corner kick. Sanusi had a shooting chance, but his shot was wide off target.

In the 59th minute, Angola produced their best goal-scoring chance after Iwobi had turned over possession. Fredy, quiet all evening, slid the ball through the Nigerian defence, and Zini was one-on-one with Nwabali, but his shot struck the post, and Ekong cleared the immediate danger.

Simon weaved past two Angola defenders on the hour, but his shot was blocked as the Eagles tried to find a second insurance goal. Sanusi played his free-kick over the wall, but it was tame and comfortably gathered by Signori. The Eagles thought they had that second goal in the 75th minute, but Osimhen had strayed marginally offside before heading past Signori.

VAR drew their lines, and Osimhen’s wait for a second AFCON goal continued. In the 81st minute, Lookman fed Osimhen, who created a shooting chance, but his shot was blocked. Nwabali was called to make two saves as the Eagles held on for their fourth consecutive clean sheet and a place in the semifinal, the 16th in the country’s history.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the prize money for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), setting the stage for an intense battle as teams vie for the prestigious trophy. As the tournament progresses into the quarter-finals, it’s clear that there’s more than just glory at stake.

The winning team of the 2023 AFCON will earn a substantial $7 million, marking a significant achievement in their football journey. The runner-up is also set for a generous reward, receiving $4 million, while the semi-finalists who do not advance to the final will each be awarded $2.5 million.

Teams making it to the quarter-finals will be granted $1.3 million, demonstrating the tournament’s high regard and competitive spirit. Additionally, participants who exit at the round of 16 stage are not left behind, with each team receiving $800,000.

Even the teams that finish third in their respective groups will see financial compensation, securing $700,000, and those ending their campaign at the bottom of their groups will get $500,000. These incentives highlight CAF’s commitment to supporting and rewarding the efforts of all participating teams.

Amidst the anticipation for financial rewards, the Nigerian team, the Super Eagles, are focused on clinching their fourth AFCON title as they prepare to face Angola in a crucial quarter-final match in Abidjan. A victory against Angola would not only advance Nigeria in the competition but also edge them closer to the substantial $7 million prize.

While the monetary incentives add an extra layer of excitement, the primary goal for the teams remains to secure the esteemed AFCON trophy. Winning the tournament is a testament to continental supremacy and an indelible mark in the annals of African football history.

With the quarter-finals underway, the competition is heating up, and fans across Africa are eagerly watching as the remaining eight teams contend for the trophy and their share of the lucrative prize pool.

President Bola Tinubu has uplifted the morale of the Super Eagles of Nigeria after calling them on video call.

The call was made ahead of Super Eagles match against Angola in the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament.

Speaking via video call from France, the President urged the players to reach for goals in the crucial Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash against Angola this evening.

The video call was posted on his son, Seyi Tinubu’s Instagram story on Friday, February 2.

Nigeria vs Angola is the first quarter-final game of the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations by 6 pm today.

All eyes are on the Super Eagles of Nigeria as they slug it out against Angola in the AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

The target for Nigeria is to qualify for the semi-final.

The winner between Nigeria and Angola on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at the 40,000-capacity Peace Stadium in Bouake, will face the winner of Cape Verde vs. South Africa to be played also on Friday.