A William Troost-Ekong second-half penalty earned Nigeria’s Super Eagles a 1-0 win against hosts Côte d’Ivoire at Stade Alassane Ouattara on Thursday, Completesports.com reports.
The game saw Jose Peseiro make changes in his starting 11 with Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, and Samuel Chukwueze in the line-up.
The Eagles went into the game having it all to do following their disappointing 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea.
For the Ivorians, they kicked off the campaign with a 2-0 win against Guinea-Bissau.
Also Read – AFCON 2023: Equatorial Guinea Beat Guinea-Bissau To Boost Round Of 16 Qualification Hopes
But it was the Nigerian side who came out tops to register their first win of the group.
The win took the Eagles, on four points, to second behind Equatorial Guinea who also are on four points.
Up next for the Eagles is their final group game against Guinea-Bissau on 22 January while Côte d’Ivoire will face Equatorial Guinea in a must-win tie.
In the group’s other game, Equatorial Guinea defeated Guinea-Bissau 4-2.
Osimhen had the first chance for the Eagles on eight minutes but hit his effort over the bar with the keeper to beat.
A few minutes later Côte d’Ivoire went close but Stanley Nwabali denied Christian Kouame one on one.
In the 15th minute, Nwabali made another save as he stopped a shot by Evan Ndicka inside the box
On 23 minutes Samuel Chukwueze had a chance off a counter but his effort was blocked for a corner.
Zaidu Sanusi broke on the left side in the 29th minute but his cross was well saved by the Ivorian keeper.
Nwabali was called to action again some minutes later as he partied away a long-range shot.
Also Read: Sights & Sounds Of AFCON 2023 – By Complete Sports’ Camera In Cote d’Ivoire
With a minute left a poor clearance from a corner fell to Sanusi who blasted his shot over the bar
The Eagles took the lead on 55 minutes after Troost-Ekong scored from the penalty spot after Osimhen was fouled inside the box.
A chance for the Eagles on 62 minutes saw Osimhen meet a long throw from Ola Aina but his header went just over the bar.
Côte d’Ivoire won a free kick on 65 minutes but the header went wide of target.
Seko Fofana attempted a volley close to the edge of the box on 74 minutes only to see his strike miss the target.
With seven minutes left Bright Osayi-Samuel went on a solo run but saw his shot blocked.
By Adeboye Amosu in Abidjan
(Photos by Ganiyu Yusuf)
20 Comments
So without that penalty the super eagles gat nothing to offer.
Na wa o!
This guy is sick shame on to you will won a match you never gave us a chance. I thought you would gone and sleep in shame you still have mouth to talk @Monkey
Ignore the guy he simply an attention seeker
GEDJRT4SURYT JVVY SWRETV C46
Don’t mind them. You know very well had they lost the game or drawn the game, they will be the first people to be calling for the coach’s head. The defense is the savior of this team. The attack and midfield is nothing to write home about. You have professional attackers who don’t know how to score. On paper we have the toughest attack at this tournament. Attackers who can’t make timely decisions, falling like a pack of cards. Well lets keep watching.
Just as I predicted yesterday.
Olu 21 hours ago
Final Score
CIV 0 – 1 NGR
REPLY
Shegebanza 20 hours ago
Nig 1: 1 Civ
REPLY
Lagos Abubaku 20 hours ago
If Nig fails to top the group, they should aim to be 3rd with 5 points to avoid Senegal in the second round, else they will be knocked out of the competition.
So they actually need a win against CIV to top the group with 7 points.
This is their final before the final.
REPLY
Something told me that Peseiro Super Eagles will come alive in a tournament environment.
Watch this space!
Osimhen is a football illuminati. Nigerians are proud of him for this gifted victory otherwise, it would have been a draw.
Congratulations fellow Nigerians. Obviously, the naysayers who’re the foreigners are disappointed. Good luck S.E.
The enigma of the party is Osmen.
@Deo my brother we are winners and true fans not fair-weather fans praying for our downfall. Eagles are going very far in this tournament and the coach will be celebrated.
Against all expectations, I just have to say a big congratulations to the team for the win.
Ekong, Osime, Aina, lookman, Calvin, were the mojo. Up up Nigeria!!!
Although 3-4-3 formation worked today, I don’t think it is the best formation for all situations.
4-3-3 also served as well against Equatorial Guinea Bissau. In fact we were more expansive and expressive on the ball against Equatorial Guinea and we created far more credible goal scoring chances.
But today the 3-4-3 allowed us to contain and restrict Ivory Coast to the point of frustrating them into hopeful pot shots.
For me, Peseiro should just adopt the same approach of Randy Waldrum: choose the formation that suits the occasion.
3-4-3 got the job done but may be in retrospect it showed too much respect for Ivory Coast. It is easy for me to say now but the Ivory Coast I saw today could have been soundly beaten had we elected for the more adventurous and admittedly risky and open 4-3-3. But Peseiro wasn’t going to take chances and it worked for him.
Well done Peseiro!
Well done Super Eagle!
Title contenders? You betcha!
I guess I want it all.
I want the team to be compact, solid at the back, and potent going forward.
For me, if properly interpreted, 3-4-3 accomplishes this. However, 3-4-3 is not the be all and end all formation. 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-5-1, 5-4-1 will work as well. The key is Peseiro and company should be able to RESPOND TACTICALLY to questions posed by our opponents.
A captain’s performance from Troost Ekong.
UNION TROOST, BIG, STRONG, RELIABLE!
The courage to step up and take that penalty. Wow. Nicely done.
Kudos to the entire team. I saw a Lookman today that was so focussed and determined.
Those calling him a softie and aje butter, he proved them wrong today.
Aina showing those ball playing skills that make some fans think he should be a midfielder. Nwabili was calm and collected in goal. Ajayi and Bassey put in quite a shift either side of Ekong. Onyeka putting himself about in the middle. Sanusi bombing up and down the left flank. Iwobi made those neat and tidy passes in the middle.
Osimhen workedg hard up front. Chuks also tried, but needs to be better with his decision making. Onuachu came in and showed he has some nifty foot work. Osayi Samuel’s solo run almost resulted in our second goal. Omeruo too came in with his no nonsense defending.
A good job all around.
Nicely summed up.
Everybody had fire in their belly today. I wonder who motivated them that much. During the water breaks, you could see the laser focus in the eyes and facial expression of Lookman especially as he paid attention to the coach’s instructions while sipping from his bottle,
I read NFF president dressed them down immediately after the first game in the company of some sports ministry officials telling them no one is irreplaceable if they cannot play the same way for eagles the way they play in their clubs. That there are many other players waiting in the wings to displace non hungry players.
You know WC qualifiers and Afcon 2025 qualifiers plenty this year.
No one wants another “Alhassan Yusuf” to take e position.
The dressing room con realize say no be Pinnick again dey address them and na new sheriff in town.
Players shock so tay peserio con tell Gusau say e no go fit enter field go score despite all the chances wey dem create.
If na me be gusau, I no go congratulate them for performance yesterday and go still keep my “previous anger” make e hopefully ginger the team forward like “if I no play well today, NFF president say coach go fit bench me oh and na true so make I try”
The 2 players of Ghana wey “assist” Egyptian goals yesterday, Ghana coach sub them from match immediately after their blunders so tay he substitute the substitute wey cause the second goal.
That is how a coach takes charge of matches by not looking at faces.
Yesterday fans at the viewing center I watched from practically were saying “remove iwobi oh before CIV equalises with the obvious home advantage referee decisions let’s get another goal and sit back well” but iwobi is coach’s darling.
If we had not the penalty, na another draw we be dey stare so they told themselves NFF fit no pamper us again with sure odds sorry sure call up lol.
Finally he breaks the jinx. Congratulations to SE please be converting chances as well.