Sports

AFCON: Own goal pushes Super Eagles into knock out stage

AFCON: Own goal pushes Super Eagles into knock out stage

The Super Eagles have advanced to the next round of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday in Abidjan with a 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau.

The result meant Nigeria finished second, after group leaders Equatorial Guinea held firmly to Group A top spot after a 4-0 annihilation of hosts Côte d’Ivoire.

In their match played at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny in Abidjan, the Super Eagles did raise their game with the hopes of a resounding win.

But they were largely held back by their opponents who knew they had nothing to lose, but could serve as spoilers.

With the Super Eagles suffering a few injuries and some key players rested, they struggled to keep this up, and were rather on the back foot mostly.

Needing to win to keep their position and advance, Nigeria kept up holding on to the game and deservedly got rewarded in the 37th minute through an own goal.

6 Guinea fans die, others injured during AFCON celebration

A Simon Moses pullout from the left flank had put the Guinea-Bissau defence on the edge.

With Victor Osimhen advancing into the goal area, Opa Sangante miserably bundled the ball past his goalkeeper into the net for the match’s lone goal.

The result made it two wins and one draw for seven points from three matches for Nigeria to finish second.

They will now meet the Group C runners-up in the second round.

Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea beat hosts Côte d’Ivoire 4-0 to win Group A, advancing into the second round ahead of Nigeria.

Cote d’Ivoire can still join the two from the group in the round of 16, depending on the results from other groups.

The Star

Editor

Recent Posts

NFF appoints Eric Chelle as Super Eagles coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Eric Chelle as the head coach of the…

10 hours ago

NYSC DG: Corps members’ll receive N77,000 allowance soon

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yush’au Ahmed, has assured…

12 hours ago

ICPC drags El-Rufai’s aide to court over money laundering

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission(ICPC) has charged former Kaduna State Governor…

12 hours ago

FRSC lauds Uba Sani over Kaduna roads construction

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commended Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani over his…

15 hours ago

Professors, lecturers protest Maikudi’s appointment as UniAbuja VC

No fewer than 50 professors and senior lecturers have staged a peaceful protest at the…

15 hours ago

Troops kill 4 soldiers’ killers in Rivers

The troops of the Nigerian Army have shot dead two suspected killers of four soldiers…

17 hours ago

This website uses cookies.