The Super Eagles of Nigeria
became the first country to qualify for the knockout stages of the Total Africa
Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over the Syli Nationale of Guinea at the
Alexandria stadium, courtesy of Kenneth Omeruo’s 73rd minute header.
Gernot Rohr, with the pace of
Guinean midfielders in mind, dropped captain, John Obi Mikel to the bench,
adopting a 4-2-1-3 formation with Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi at the
base of midfield, with Alex Iwobi behind match-winner against Burundi, Odion
Ighalo.
Chigozie Awaziem started at right
back in place of injured Shehu Abdullahi, while Leon Balogun replaced
Troost-Ekong in central defence to partner Kenneth Omeruo.
The Super Eagles should have been
ahead in the early minutes but both Iwobi and prolific Ighalo hesitated when a
few yards from goal after being set up by dangerous cut-backs from the wings.
Moses Simon, who took the place
of Samuel Chukwueze on the right wing, got a sight of goal when found by Ahmed
Musa’s cross-field pass and went for glory after evading a defender, blazing
high and wide.
The Super Eagles’ best chance of
the half, however, came on 32 minutes when Simon put Ighalo through on goal but
the striker went for glory, finding the side netting when he could have set up
Ahmed Musa for a tap in, an uncharacteristic selfish play from the 30-year-old
striker.
It was a feisty and tasty clash
happening in midfield, the duo of Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi both
taking turns to stop the dangerous Naby Keita, with Omeruo occasionally joining
the party.
The unpredictable and pacey
Liverpool midfielder was hounded at every turn, suffering more fouls than any
other Guinean in the first period, but both Ndidi and Etebo did manage to
stifle the 24-year-old, defusing most of the opposition’s attacking build-up in
the process.
In an open encounter, both teams
were dangerous in attack but the Eagles finished the half the more dangerous
side, Alex Iwobi working Ibrahim Kone from 25 yards, while Awaziem headed wide
at the back post from the resultant corner kick with the goal gapping after the
keeper had misjudged the flight of the ball.
Nigeria, sluggish after the interval, only
came to life on the hour mark, Ahmed Musa breaking free on the counter but his
cross to Ighalo was blocked and moments later, Iwobi produced a moment of
magic, his curling effort from 20 yards required an acrobatic save from Kone.
The Eagles continued to press for
the opener and duly got the opening goal which proved to be the winning goal
from an unlikely source, Omeruo, in the 73rd minute.
The Leganes of Spain defender
evaded his marker to deliver a glancing header beyond Kone from Moses Simon’s
corner kick, his first international goal for Nigeria.
Gernot Rohr brought on Samuel
Chukwueze for Iwobi to stretch the Guineans further, while the German coach
also introduced Paul Onuachu and Samuel Kalu to run down the clock.
The final whistle means Super
Eagles of Nigeria got one over a seemingly bogey team in Guinea, securing their
sixth victory over their West African foe who have won five encounters.
Nigeria have now earned maximum
six points from their first two games, are top of Group B and have sealed
qualification into the knockout stages of the AFCON tournament.
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