Izuchukwu OkosiThe Super Eagles of Nigeria Monday evening laboured to a 1-0 away win over Guinea Bissau to reclaim top spot in Group A of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures.
The three-time African champions had lost by the same result on Friday to the ‘Wild Dogs’ currently ranked 118th by FIFA in the world rankings.
The win on Monday arrested a run of four consecutive defeats by Jose Peseiro’s team.
Nantes of France forward, Moses Simon grabbed the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 30th minute as he stroked the ball past goalkeeper Jonas Mendes after Bright Osayi-Samuel was brought down inside the penalty box.
The Eagles desperately searched for a second goal but the home side were resolute in defence and denied the likes of Victor Osimhen, Terem Moffi and Samuel Chukwueze the chance to add to the scoreline.
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The victory ensures that Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations hopes are restored as they have returned to the summit of the table with 9 points from four games, two points adrift of Guinea-Bissau.
The Eagles next round of matches are against Sierra Leone whom they mauled 10-0 away and an away fixture against Sao Tome and Pricinpe.
Two teams will qualify from each group for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations except the group that contains the Ivory Coast who have qualified as hosts.
The Elephants are only availing themselves the opportunity of quality games to prepare for the tournament that they will be hosting in January 2024.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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