AFCON: Super Eagles Defeat Guinea Bissau, Record 100 Percent Winning Streak In Group Matches

By Akinwale Kasali

The Super Eagles of Nigeria recorded their third win in the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon with a 2-0 win over Guinea Bissau at the Ahidjo Stadium in Garoua, Cameroon.

As expected, Interim Coach Augustine Eguavoen, fielded a second string team that also had of its regulars in the starting line up.

Omonia Nicosia Football Club of Cyprus Goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho was giving the nod ahead of the other three goalkeepers, with Captain of the team, William Troost Ekong, partnering Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Jamilu Collins and Tyronne Ebuehi in the defense.

Wilfred Ndidi paired Kelechi Nwakali, Chidera Ejuke, and Alex Iwobi in the midfield, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Sadiq Umar leading the attack.

Immediately the Kenyan Referee signaled the commencement of the game, the Super Eagles continued from where they stopped against the Falcons of Sudan in their second match, controlling the pace of the game.

The Guinea Bissau players were at the back forth absorbing the pressure from the Nigerians who controlled possession in the early stages.

As the game gathered momentum, the Guinea Bissau players took the game to their opponent, forcing Uzoho to make two crucial saves and intervention before the end of the first half.

Umar in the Super Eagles attack wasted a Golden chance that could have given the West African team the lead but his lackadaisical approach saw the Guineans clearing their back line.

There was no clear cut chance for both teams throughout the first half.

On resumption for the second half of the game, the Super Eagles took the game to their opponents leading to the goal scored by Umar after a superb square pass by Iheanacho.

Eguavoen brought in Slavia Prague Football Club of Czech Republic striker, Peter Oladeji Olayinka to replace Umar, with Moses Simon replacing Ejuke.

The substitution however paid off few minutes to the introduction of the players, Moses individual effort led to the second goal as he mesmerized the Guinean defense with his shot hitting the pole before Troost Ekong tap in the rebounding shot into an open net to give the Super Eagles their second goal.

Henry Onyekuru, Olisa Noah and Frank Onyeka also tasted action after coming on for Nwakali, Ebuehi and Iheanacho respectively.

In the other Group D match, the Pharaohs of Egypt recorded a slim 1-0 win over Sudan with the only goal of the match scored by Mohammed Abdelmonem, as the Egyptians finished as runners-up behind the Super Eagles.

Nigeria had a 100 percent winning record with Nine Points behind Egypt with Six points, Guinea Bissau and Sudan garnering One Point apiece.

The Super Eagles remain the only team to have won all its three matches in the competition, with no other team achieving such feat in AFCON 2021.

With the 100 Percent winning streak, Eguavoen remains the only Coach in the history of  Nigeria’s participation at AFCON tournament to have won all his Three Group matches, having achieved such feat at 2006 AFCON in Egypt.