In a gripping encounter at Ebimpe’s Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium, the Nigerian Super Eagles managed a 1-1 draw against a resilient Equatorial Guinea in their opening match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Group A.
Equatorial Guinea opened the scoring with a composed finish by Ivan Salvador in the 36th minute, momentarily stunning the Super Eagles. The Equatorial Guinean lead, however, was short-lived. Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen responded with a crucial header, levelling the scoreline and saving his team from an early setback.
The first half was marked by Nigeria’s intense efforts to overturn the deficit, highlighted by Moses Simon’s shot striking the upright just before halftime. The second half saw a more balanced contest, with neither side significantly troubling the opposing goal. Both teams’ defenses remained disciplined, minimizing chances and maintaining the deadlock.
Looking ahead, Nigeria faces a highly anticipated clash against Cote d’Ivoire, who started their campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau. This upcoming match is set to capture the attention of the entire African football community.
Equatorial Guinea, buoyed by their performance and the vital point secured, will next face Guinea-Bissau, who are looking to rebound from their opening loss.
The results leave Group A intriguingly poised, with Cote d’Ivoire leading, while Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria are just a point above Guinea-Bissau. The Nigerian side, with its blend of experienced and emerging talents, will be keen to build on this performance and assert their status as one of the favorites in the tournament.
