As resilient Equatorial Guinea frustrates Nigeria
Equatorial Guinea frustrated Nigeria with a 1-1 stalemate on Sunday afternoon after both sides kicked off their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Group A matches at Ebimpe’s Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.
A composed finish by Ivan Salvador in the 36th minute saw Equatorial Guinea shock the Super Eagles with the lead.
The celebrations were short-lived as Nigerian hitman Victor Osimhen leveled matters with a problematic header that reached an empty net to salvage a point for the Nigerians.
With the crowd behind them, Nigeria went in search of the second and was almost rewarded in the 45th minute when Moses Simon’s well-struck effort came off the upright to the relief of Equatorial Guinea.
In the second half, both sides hardly troubled each other’s goals, with both sets of defenders doing well to remain disciplined.
Next for Nigeria is a clash that Africa will be waiting for with bated breath as they take on tournament hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, who opened their campaign with a clinical 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday evening.
Equatorial Guinea, on the other hand, will be encouraged by the point when they face a wounded Guinea-Bissau.
The results see Group A being led by Cote d’Ivoire, while Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria are a point above Guinea-Bissau.
