The Super Eagles of Nigeria completed their qualification to the knockout stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 following their slim 1-0 win over Guinea Bissau.
Victor Osimhen was presented with a great opportunity and he fired a shot with his right foot but went past the goal post the early minutes.
Nigeria continued to be more dangerous up front with some great chances but kept missing them.
However, by attacking, José Peseiro’s men ended up being rewarded with a counterattack led by Ola Aina who found Moses Simon before his cross landed on Opa Sanganté who put the ball in his own net.
Nigeria kept pressing even after going up by a goal to nil in the second half in search of more goals.
Twice, Samuel Chukwueze missed his one-on-one meeting with Jonas Mendes. In the 59th minute, Osimhen’s effort ended up in the net but was flagged offside.
It ended 1-0 and the results mean, Nigeria with 7 points have progressed to the round of 16 where they will face the team that finish second in Group C on Saturday, 27 January.
Speaking to the media after the match, Baciro Condé, Guinea Bissau coach consoled his side for the three loses as they bowed out of the competition but hoped for a better to turn things around in the next edition of the tourney
“Three outings which all ended in defeats, these are not the results we were hoping for. We did not show the true colors of Guinea Bissau, we are eliminated, that’s the game. Now we will get back to work and come back stronger”.
José Peseirom, the head coach of Nigeria said; “It’s a new competition that’s starting for us. The most important part of a competition in this TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations: the knockout matches.”
“We will have to be more clinical in front of goal because the slightest mistake will be fatal for us,” he added.
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