The Tremendous Eagles rose from the ashes of their opening day (1-1 draw in opposition to minnows, Equatorial Guinea) yesterday to document certainly one of their finest ends in current occasions, beating hosts Ivory Coast 1-0 of their second match. of the continuing Africa Cup of Nations.
Stand-in Captain William Troost-Ekong scored the aim from the spot within the second half.
Not many followers of the sport gave the Nigerians an opportunity at victory after their tepid failure to beat Equatorial Guinea on Sunday and likewise the emphatic defeat of Guinea-Bissau by Ivory Coast in their very own match. However Jose Peseiro's boys confirmed the maturity they’ve been missing in current occasions, holding the hosts in a cagey encounter that required extra brains than brawn.
Peseiro made two modifications to the crew that drew in opposition to Equatorial Guinea on the opening day, with Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze changing the injured Alhassan Yusuf and Moses Simon.
The Tremendous Eagles had a 3-4-3 formation with Bassey alongside captain William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi in central defence, flanked by Zaidu Sanusi and Ola Aina within the wing-backs.
Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka performed deep in midfield, whereas Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman went alongside striker Victor Osimhen. The formation gave the Eagles extra management in midfield than the hosts and it was no shock that Nigeria had the primary likelihood, which was sadly shot large by Onyeka.
With new goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili giving the defenders the safety they wanted to do their job undisturbed, the Tremendous Eagles took the sport to the Elephants, conceding 4 corners to the Ivoirians' two in a torrid first half.
What would have been the opening aim was squandered by Osimhen when he got here head to head with the Ivorian goalkeeper. The primary half ended goalless.
Nevertheless, the story modified ten minutes into the second half when an Ivorian defender fouled Osimhen within the penalty space. After a VAR examine, the referee designated Nigeria's first penalty of the competitors and captain Troost-Ekong positioned it previous the goalkeeper for the winner.
The victory places Nigeria on 4 factors, identical to Equatorial Guinea, which leads Group A on the idea of superior objectives. Ivory Coast is third with three factors, whereas winless Guinea-Bissau is on the backside of the rankings.
Nigeria will meet Guinea-Bissau of their ultimate group match on Monday, whereas Equatorial Guinea will play Ivory Coast.
The primary two groups from every group qualify for the second spherical, whereas the highest 4 third-placed groups additionally make it to the spherical.
