A 36th minute own goal from Opa Sangate was all the Super Eagles of Nigeria needed to qualify as Group A runners-up, to book the Round of 16 ticket at the ongoing African Cup of Nations championship in Côte d’ Ivoire.
The Super Eagles needed an outright win against the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau for the knockout phase of the continental showpiece, and they curtailed the Guinea Bissau team from the blast of the commencement of proceedings by female Moroccan Referee, Bouchra Karboubi.
Coach Jose Peseiro made some changes in the Super Eagles Line Up, dropping William Troost Ekong who picked up a knock in training by starting the team with Stanley Nwabali in Goal, while Ola Aina, Bright Samuel-Osayi, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Kenneth Omeruo in the heart of the five man defense.
Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze in the midfield while Victor Osimhen led the attack.
As expected, the Super Eagles dominated the game but were unable to convert their chances, not until Sangate’s own goal that sent the vociferous Nigerian supporters to ecstasy.
The second half was not different from the first as the Super Eagles played their heart but squandered several scoring chances.
The introduction of Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika and Zaidu Sanusi changed the dynamics of the game, but the dominance of the Nigeria team never metamorphosed into the desired second goal.
At the other Group A match, host, Elephants of Côte d’ Ivoire was annihilated 4-0 by the National Thunder of Equatorial Guinea, to keep their qualification hopes in a fix.
The possibility of Côte d’ Ivoire qualifying for the Round of 16 hangs in the balance, with the team waiting patiently for the outcome of Group matches to determine whether they will qualify as one of the Four Best Losers.
Nigeria finished the Group A Table with Seven Points as the Equatorial Guineans who also gave Seven Points, but have a better Goal difference.
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