Nigeria's Super Eagles became the first country to qualify for the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over the Syli Nationale of Guinea at the Alexandria stadium in Egypt, courtesy of a Kenneth Omeruo’s header in the 73rd minute.
Eagle's captain John Obi Mikel was dropped to the bench as Gernot Rohr adopting a 4-2-1-3 formation with Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi at the base of midfield, with Alex Iwobi behind lone striker Odion Ighalo. Chigozie Awaziem started at right full-back in place of injured Shehu Abdullahi, while Leon Balogun replaced Troost-Ekong in central defence to partner Kenneth Omeruo at the heart of the defence.
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.
Winger Moses Simon who started in place of Villarreal's Samuel Cukwueze had a glorious opportunity, after he was found by Ahmed Musa’s cross-field pass, as he did well to dribble past a Guinean defender before his shot was off target. However the Super Eagles’ should have been one nil up in the 32nd minute when Simon played Ighalo on with a through ball, and the striker decided to take a shot instead of setting up Ahmed Musa to tap into the empty net, the shot eventually found the side netting.
It was a feisty affair in midfield, as the duo of Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi both taking turns to stop the Liverpool's Naby Keita from initiating the attack with Omeruo occasionally joining at some point. The unpredictable and pacey midfielder was hounded at every turn, suffering more fouls than any other Guinean in the encounter,but both Ndidi and Etebo managed to stifle the 24-year-old, disrupting 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, with Alex Iwobi testing goal keeper Ibrahim Kone from 25 yards, while Awaziem headed wide at the back post from the resultant corner kick with after the keeper had misjudged the flight of the ball.
Nigeria, looked more dangerous in the second half as they go in search of a goal when Ahmed Musa broke free on the counter but his cross to Ighalo was blocked and moments later, Iwobi produced again had his curling effort from 20 yards acrobatically saved by Kone.
The Eagles continued to press for the opener which they duly got from defender Kenneth Omeruo, in the 73rd minute. The Leganes of Spain defender evaded his marker to stare home a glancing header beyond Kone from a Simon’s corner kick, his first international goal for Nigeria.
Alex iwobi was later substituted with Samuel Chukwueze coming on for Iwobi as well also as Paul Onuachu and Samuel Kalu to run down the clock as it appeared that the Guineans weren't going to come back.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment