Super Eagles emerge, Group A runners-up behind leaders Equatorial Guinea

Nigeria booked their place in the last 16 (FRANCK FIFE)

The Super Eagles completed their qualification to the knockout stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 following their slim 1-0 win over Guinea Bissau.

Victor Osimhen was presented with a great opportunity, and he fired a shot with his right foot, but it went past the goalpost in the early minutes.

With some great chances, Nigeria continued to be more dangerous up front but kept missing them.

However, by attacking, José Peseiro’s men ended up being rewarded with a counterattack led by Ola Aina, who found Moses Simon before his cross landed on Opa Sanganté, who put the ball in his net.

Nigeria kept pressing even after going up by a goal to nil in the second half in search of more goals.

Twice, Samuel Chukwueze missed his one-on-one meeting with Jonas Mendes.  In the 59th minute, Osimhen’s effort ended up in the net but was flagged offside.

It ended 1-0, and the results mean Nigeria, with 7 points, has progressed to the round of 16, where they will face the team that finishes second in Group C on Saturday, 27 January.

Post-Match Reactions  

Baciro Condé – Guinea Bissau coach 

“Three outings which all ended in defeats are not the results we were hoping for. We did not show the true colors of Guinea Bissau; we were eliminated; that’s the game. Now we will get back to work and come back stronger”.

José Peseiro –  Nigeria coach 

“It’s a new competition that’s starting for us. The knockout matches are the most important part of this TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations competition.  We will have to be more clinical in front of the goal because the slightest mistake will be fatal for us”

The statistics:

For the 17th time in their history, the Super Eagles are in the round of 16 of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.