AFCON 2023: Cote d’Ivoire 0-1 Nigeria: Super Eagles stun hosts to keep hopes alive

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria secured a 1-0 win over hosts Cote d’Ivoire to get their Africa Cup of Nations campaign back on track on Thursday.

Smarting from an unimpressive 1-1 opening draw with Equatorial Guinea, Jose Peseiro’s men required the maximum points to keep themselves in the frame for a place in the knockout stages.

The heat got more hotter with a 4-2 victory for Equatorial Guinea over Guinea Bissau in the early kickoff.

Victor Osimhen had the first and best chance of the opening half of the game when the Napoli star came close after he was set up by Ademola Lookman but the former’s effort went over the bar in the eighth minute.

Ivory Coast, however, had their own moments to get in front moments later when Christian Kouame played through at the middle of the goal but his effort forced a save from Stanley Nwabali.

In the 31st minute, Seko Fofana had a golden opportunity to cause a stir but his eventual shot was easily gathered by the goalkeeper Stanley Nwabuli.

With 10 minutes into the second half,  Osimhen was adjudged to have been brought down inside the area by an Ivorian defender after VAR review and captain William Troost-Ekong fired home the resulting spot kick.

This was the first win for Nigeria in Cote d’Ivoire in 10 meetings and the win pushes Nigeria to second place in Group A after Equatorial Guinea defeated Guinea Bissau 4-2 to go top with four points from two matches, same as Nigeria, while Cote d’Ivoire dropped to third on three points and Guinea Bissau are bottom without any points.

The Super Eagles will tackle Guinea Bissau in their final Group A game on Monday, while Cote d’Ivoire take on surprise group leaders Equatorial Guinea.