The Eagles currently have four points from their first two games after the victory, according to reporting from Premium Times. The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated the hosts of AFCON 2023, Cote d’Ivoire, 1-0 on Thursday, putting them back in the running to win Group A.
The Eagles only needed a penalty kick from captain William Troost-Ekong in the 54th minute to win and pick up three points.
To match the Elephants, head coach José Peseiro changed his formation to a 3-4-3, inserting Calvin Bassey as the third centre defender and Samuel Chukwueze in place of Moses Simon on the right wing.
The Eagles played strong defence, and Victor Osimhen squandered an early scoring opportunity.
To effectively counter the Elephants’ midfield trio of Seko Fofana, Ibrahim Sangare, and Franck Kessie, coach Jose Peseiro deployed a 3-4-3 formation that overloaded the midfield. By stifling that midfield, Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi’s use as wing-backs enabled Nigeria to counterattack.
It was a rugged first half, with more 50-50 contests going to the Eagles. In the seventh minute, Sanusi made a poor back pass, but Stanley Nwabali prevented him from blushing.
The Eagles’ careless defence let Evan Ndicka take a shot in the twenty-first minute. He shot directly at Nwabali.
A minute later, the Eagles were still giving the Elephants problems on the fast breaks when Ghislain Konan blocked Chukwueze’s goal-bound attempt for a corner kick. Troost-Ekong had stopped a pass and started the offensive that set up Chukwueze’s opportunity just before that one.
In the thirtyth minute, Seko Fofana fired a long-range shot that stung Nwabali’s hands. Chukwueze mishandled the pass in the second minute of additional time.
Ousmane Diomande fouled Osimhen in the area barely nine minutes into the second half. The penalty could not have been awarded without the use of VAR.
Yahia Fofana dove to his left as Ekong lunged forward, slicing right through the middle. In the 62nd minute, Osimhen headed over a long throw from Aina, missing another opportunity to score.
Even in the nine extra minutes, the Eagles remained strong and did not allow the Elephants to score.
Nigeria is currently ranked second in Group A, after Equatorial Guinea, thanks to Osimhen’s selection as Man of the Match. Currently ranked third, Cote d’Ivoire is dependent on their most recent matchup with Equatorial Guinea going well.
Written by Chioma Offor (Obinwannem News correspondent in Germany)
Date: January 19, 2024
Published by Ugwu Okechukwu CEO Obinwannem (ONN)
