AFCON 2023 Race: Nigeria is back to the top of group A
Guinea-Bissau 0 VS 1 Nigeria Super Eagles – Goals & Highlights -2023 AFCON Qualifiers
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Nigeria reversed Group A positions with Guinea Bissau today to return to the summit of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying pool as Moses Simon’s 30th minute penalty condemned hosts, Guinea Bissau, to a one-goal defeat.
The Eagles, created several opportunities but failed to get behind the Djurtus’ goalkeeper. In the first half, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze failed to polish off clear cut goal scoring opportunities, before Simon converted his spot kick to put Nigeria ahead for the first time in the double header fixture.
The Djurtus were always dangerous as was the case in the first leg in Abuja but failed to ruffle the new Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi central defensive equation, even as Bright Osayi-Samuel continued to solidify his claim for the Super Eagles’ right back position.
Osimhen’s effort was stopped by the upright in the 59th minute when he smashed a shot past Mendes. Four minutes on, the man from Napoli shot into the sky after Samuel Chukwueze’s through pass set him loose from his markers .
In the 69th minute, Osimhen was again frustrated by the concentration and readiness of Mendes after Simon’s cross from the left flank had freed him from his markers. Two minutes after, substitute Joe Aribo was also cracking his knuckles after Mendes strong hand pushed over his ferocious shot from outside the box.
The victory sealed Super Eagle’s return to the zenith of their group with nine points, relegating Guinea Bissau to second on seven points and Sierra Leone, who spanked Sao Tome and Principe on Wednesday, to third with five points. The next round of the qualifiers is slated for June when Nigeria will visit Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau take on bottom-placed Sao Tome and Principe.
Results
Monday 27 March 2023 |
||||||||
| FT | Central African Republic |  |
2 | v | 0 |  |
Madagascar | |
| Match page | ||||||||
| FT | South Sudan |  |
0 | v | 1 |  |
Congo | |
| Match page | ||||||||
| FT | Angola |  |
1 | v | 1 |  |
Ghana | |
| Match page | ||||||||
| FT | Guinea-Bissau |  |
0 | v | 1 |  |
Nigeria | |
| Match page | ||||||||
| FT | Niger |  |
0 | v | 1 |  |
Algeria | |
| Match page | ||||||||
| FT | Ethiopia |  |
2 | v | 3 |  |
Guinea | |
| Match page | ||||||||
| FT | Sudan |  |
1 | v | 0 |  |
Gabon | |
| Match page | ||||||||
