The Nigeria’s Soccer squad, Super Eagles on Thursday defeated Cote d’Ivoire, host country of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by 1-0, meaning Nigeria now have four points from two matches and back in contention to top Group A.
Penpushing reports that the first half was a physical contest, with the Nigeria team winning more of the 50-50 contests, while Stanley Nwabali saved Sanusi’s blushes after a weak back pass in the eighth minute.
The Super Eagles were solid defensively, and Victor Osimhen had an early scoring chance, which he missed and in the 21st minute, the Eagles’ lax defence allowed Evan Ndicka to take a shot. His shot was straight at Nwabali.
Penpushing further reports that Chukwueze’s goal-bound shot was blocked by Ghislain Konan for a corner kick a minute later as the Nigeria soccer squad continued to trouble the Elephants on the fast breaks, and just before that chance, Troost-Ekong had intercepted a pass and initiated the attack that led to Chukwueze’s chance.
The Coach Jose Peseiro tweaked his formation to a 3-4-3 to match the Elephants, and he brought in Calvin Bassey as the third centre-back while Samuel Chukwueze replaced Moses Simon on the right flank.
Penpushing also reports that Peseiro’s 3-4-3 formation effectively overloaded the midfield to counter the Elephants midfield trio of Seko Fofana, Ibrahim Sangare, and Franck Kessie, while Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi’s usage as wing-backs stymied that midfield and helped Nigeria counter.
The palms of Nwabali were stung by a long-range shot from Seko Fofana in the 30th minute, while in the second minute of added time, Chukwueze failed to pick the right pass, however, the second half was just nine minutes old when Ousmane Diomande fouled Osimhen in the box.
Penpushing reports It needed a VAR intervention for the penalty to be awarded, while Ekong stepped up and blasted straight through the middle, with Yahia Fofana diving to his left, and Osimhen passed up another scoring chance in the 62nd minute when he headed over from a long throw from Aina.
The Super Eagles held firm and refused the Elephants scoring opportunities, even in the nine minutes that were added on, while Osimhen was chosen as the Man of the Match, and with Nigeria now second behind Equatorial Guinea in Group A. Cote d’Ivoire are third on the table, needing a positive result from their last game against Equatorial Guinea.
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