Izuchukwu Okosi
Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Monday evening beat Guinea Bissau 1-0 to finish their Group A campaign in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire as runners up behind Equatorial Guinea, reports Prime Business Africa.
An own goal by Opa Sangante made the difference and ensured that the Eagles will reach the round of 16 stage and play the winners of Group C, D or E.
The game was the 100th in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria since the inception of the tournament in 1963.
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The Eagles were 1-0 up in the 37th minute of the first half after an own goal from Opa Sangante who inadvertently turned in the ball into his own net in a bid to prevent Victor Osimhen from connecting with the ball floated into the box by Moses Simon.
Early in the game, Osimhen was presented with a chance to put the three-time African champions ahead but his low shot at the edge of the box was tame and off target.
The Nigerian side was noticeably solid in defence in the previous game against hosts of the tournament Cote d’Ivoire but on Monday evening the central defence was guilty of sloppiness as they conceded possession while trying to get the ball into the forward areas.
Osimhen had another chance late in the first half but he flashed his header wide from a Calvin Bassey diagonal pass into the Guineans’ area.
Head coach Jose Peseiro cut an animated figure on the dugout as his team could not kill off the game despite the lapses in their opponents’ backline.
In the second half, the Eagles had hordes of chances to extend their lead and put the contest out of the reach of the hapless Gunieans but could not make them count.
Guinea’s Bissau had a goal chalked off for an offside call as Franculino Gludo Oju’s rasping shot beat a stranded Stanley Nwabali in Nigeria goal.
Zaidu Sanusi’s goal barely a minute later was disallowed as VAR reviews indicated that Victor Osimhen handled the ball before the Porto left back poked home.
Jose Peseiro’s team finished with 7 points and three goals advantage while Equatorial Guinea finished the group stage with 7 points also with +9 goal difference after a 4-0 humiliation of the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire.
