Football fans have expressed optimism over the Super Eagles ability to win the African Cup of Nations trophy in South Africa.

The fans hinge their optimism on the Eagles' performance in the quarter-finals win over Cote d'Ivoire on Sunday.

The Eagles defeated Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 to progress to the semi-finals of the tournament with goals from Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba sealing the victory.

The fans in Lagos that the team's performance was impressive, adding that the Eagles would win the trophy.

John Ogbe, a worker with the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), had this to say :

"In a long time Eagles have not played together like this. We came into this game as underdogs and with this victory we hope the Eagles are going to go all the way.

"We want everybody to support them, government, private sector, everybody should just rally round behind the Eagles because I know the cup is coming down to Nigeria.

"It's a confirmation that this team has really worked hard overtime and the results are beginning to come in."

Omotayo Oguntoyinbo, a businessman, said the performance was amazing, adding that Nigerians were so passionate about football.

"Amazing, very amazing. I never believed Nigerians could be as mad as this about football and the thing is that Super Eagles made me feel a bit differently about football, today I'm amazed."

Also, Adekunle Search, a civil servant, in his reaction said Nigeria would win the Nations Cup, adding that not even an African octopus would stop the Eagles from winning the trophy.

"We don win o, we've won. They say there's an African octopus right now but I don't believe in an octopus. Nigeria we're taking the cup this time."

For Musa Ibrahim, who works in the airport, "the performance was great. The players showed a lot of team spirit and determination to win.

"With this victory I think our faith is now in our hands and as such we will win it".

Nigeria will play the Eagles of Mali on Wednesday in the semi-finals of the 29th edition of the Nations Cup in Durban, South Africa.