In a hotly contested match the Super Eagles of Nigeria were able to quiet the noise of the host nation, Ivory Coast, after they lost to the super eagles 1-0.
By Olisa Obi
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have found a much needed balance after they were able to beat the host nation, the Elephants of Ivory Coast.
William Troost-Ekong’s second-half penalty gave Nigeria a 1-0 win over Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, turning up the heat on the host country whose hopes of reaching the last 16 remain in the balance.
Related Post
- Osimhen’s Goal not Enough, Super Eagles Held to Stalemate against Equatorial Guinea
- Seun Kuti Criticises Super Eagles’ Players For Eating Fufu Before Matches
- CAF: 2025 AFCON dates to affect Club World Cup
Captain Troost-Ekong of the Greek club, PAOK, converted from the spot 10 minutes into the second half at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in Abidjan, after a foul on Victor Osimhen was picked up following a VAR check.
The Super Eagles then held on in front of a frenzied crowd to claim their first win in Group A after beginning their AFCON bid with a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea.
While Equatorial Guinea and the Super Eagles are locked on four points at the top of the section only separated by goal difference, Ivory Coast are currently behind them on three points and Guinea-Bissau already eliminated after losing both games so far.
For Ivory Coast to advance to the knockout stage, they must ensure they beat Equatorial Guinea in their last match or qualify through best third (the four best third-placed sides in the six groups will all advance to the last 16).
Meanwhile, Nigeria must simply avoid defeat against Guinea-Bissau (who were beaten 4-2 by Equatorial Guinea earlier) to ensure a top-two finish.
The match was watched by 49,517 fans, a far higher crowd than that of the hosts’ opening game. This made the number of empty seats at the 60,000-capacity venue then a source of controversy.
