The Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea continued their rich vein of form after holding Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in their Group A opener of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON2023) at the Olympic Stadium, Ebimpe on Sunday.
Nigeria’s lively start to the game played in sweltering conditions soon withered away and Equatorial Guinea got their noses in front in the 36th minute when Iban Salvador found the bottom left after a brilliant piece of work by Jose Machin.
The lead didn’t last long though as the Super Eagles levelled matters two minutes later when reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was left unmarked to head home Ademola Lookman’s cross from close range.
Nigeria had further chances to score but misses by Zaidu Sanusi and most notably Osimhen who fired wide after he was put through clean on goal by an Alex Iwobi pass meant that the Super Eagles fail to get pass a team that are now unbeaten in their last ten matches.
Team News
Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro handed competitive debuts to South Africa based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and Belgium based midfield Alhassan Yusuf as he favoured a rare 433 formation for the Eagles.
Alhassan indeed made a good impression with his energetic contribution in the midfield. He also created Nigeria’s best opportunity of the first half when his low cross from the right was hit off target by Zaidu Sanusi with an empty net gaping.
Jesus Saves
Equatorial Guinea goalkeeprr Jesus Owono was named the match’s Most Valuable Player and rightly so. The Alaves shot-stopper denied Nigeria on a couple of occasions in the second half to keep his side into the game.
He first denied Sanusi on a counter attack before smothering Osimhen’s effort from close range, narrowing the angle before blocking the striker’s left footed effort.
It was Osimhen however that missed Nigeria’s best chance as aforementioned with the Equato-Guinean side seeing the game off and holding on to their point.
Consequence
Nigeria are now currently joint second in Group A along with Equatorial Guinea. The Super Eagles will face hosts Côte d’Ivoire in their second group game on Thursday at the Olympic Stadium on Ebimpe.
What they say:
Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro believes they deserved to him and defends his attackers
“I think we deserved to win. I’m sad because we deserved to beat them but it can happen in this situation. We missed a lot of opportunities and I hope next time, we can score more.
“Nobody misses goals because you want to. Our job is to keep our idea and command in the game and improve our finishing and hope we have more luck,” said Peseiro on Sunday.
Nigeria XI: Nwabali, Ola Aina (Bright Osayi 83′), Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi (Calvin Bassey 83′); Alhassan Yusuf (Joe Aribo 69′), Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi; Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
