Super Eagles see off Djurtus to progress from Group A

Nigeria booked their place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 after edging a spirited Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in their final Group A match at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Monday, January 22.

An own-goal from Opa Sangante in the 36th minute settled the contest in steamy Abidjan as Jose Peseiro’s side clinched second place in the group behind Equatorial Guinea, who battered Ivory Coast 4-0 in the concurrent fixture at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

The Super Eagles had the Djurtus on their heels in the opening stages and Victor Osimhen dragged a shot narrowly past the far post in the third minute, although Nito Gomes threatened at the other end four minutes later with a strike from range that had Stanley Nwabali diving to his left to make the save.

Joe Aribo had Nigeria’s first shot on target in the 21st minute, but his first-time effort from the edge of the box took a hefty touch off a defender on its way through to Jonas Mendes. Dalcio then drew a comfortable save out of Nwabali moments later with another shot from distance.

A slice of fortune brought the opener for the three-time African champions on 36 minutes when Sangante diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper in a bid to prevent Osimhen from getting on the end of a dangerous cross aimed towards the back post.

Zinho Gano nearly hit back for Guinea-Bissau in the 45th minute as he steered a header over the crossbar from a free-kick, while Osimhen was unable to convert Calvin Bassey’s fine cross in stoppage time after he headed wide of the right post on the stretch.

Famana Quizera wasted a good opportunity to put the Super Eagles under pressure on 51 minutes when he went for goal from a direct free-kick and failed to hit the target.

Osimhen went close again with a header that flew the wrong side of the right post from Ola Aina’s cross on 56 minutes, while Dalcio managed to work Nwabali with a curling effort from range moments later.

VAR quickly cut short Nigeria’s celebrations just before the half-hour mark when Osimhen had a goal ruled out for handball after he converted a low cross from close range.

VAR intervened twice more in the closing stages as Franculino Dju was deemed to be in an offside position when he lashed a shot home from inside the box on 82 minutes, while Osimhen had another goal chalked off two minutes later after he scored at the second attempt from close range, although another Nigerian player was adjudged to be offside in the build-up.

Marciano Sanca almost snatched a late equaliser with a strike from distance that Nwabali turned around his right post on 86 minutes and Fali Cande proved wasteful when he sent a direct free-kick over the target in the 89th minute.

Guinea-Bissau: (0) 0

Nigeria: (1) 1 (Sangante 36′ OG)

Guinea-Bissau: J. Mendes, H. Mendes, E. Ie, O. Sangante, Nanu (F, Cande 80′), N. Gomes, F. Quizera (Ze Turbo 68′), Dalcio (A. Semedo 88′), C. Gomes (M. Sanca 46′), Z. Gano (F. Dju 46′).

Nigeria: S. Nwabali, O. Aina (C. Awaziem 90+4′), K. Omeruo, S. Ajayi, C. Bassey, B. Osayi-Samuel (Z. Sanusi 80′), F. Onyeka (R. Onyedika 63′), S. Chukwueze (A. Lookman 80′), J. Aribo (A. Iwobi 63′), M. Simon, V. Osimhen.