In the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying round, Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Guinea Bissau 1-0 thanks to wing forward Moses Simon’s penalty shot.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the victory allowed them to retake control of Group A of the qualifications, which they had lost on Friday in Abuja.
The Super Eagles scored their first goal in four games on matchday four at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro in Bissau.
The Super Eagles knew they needed to win in Bissau after their heartbreaking 0-1 loss to Guinea-Bissau on Friday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi started from the bench as head coach Jose Peseiro made five changes to his starting 11 from Friday’s game.
The Super Eagles got out to a strong start and controlled the first period of play, but Guinea-Bissau played strong defence.
Nigeria increased the pressure, but the Wild Dogs were willing to do nothing more than watch and take it all in.
But talented Fenerbahce fullback Bright Osayi-Samuel took matters into his own hands shortly before the half-hour mark by darting into the opponents’ penalty area.
After being hacked down, the Mauritius referee was forced to give a penalty kick, which Simon calmly and expertly converted in the 29th minute.
On a counterattacking play against a Guinea-Bissau defender five minutes later, Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen gave Nigeria another fantastic chance to double the advantage.
To Osimhen’s dismay, Chukwueze chose not to give him a simple pass in exchange for a shot that was well off target.
Moments later, Semi Ajayi had another chance to score with a header, but it was easily saved as Nigeria held a narrow advantage at the interval.
The second half in Bissau got off to a sluggish start as Nigeria searched for a second goal to end the match.
But the Super Eagles didn’t get near until Osimhen rattled the post from nothing just before the hour mark.
Four minutes after the Osimhen opportunity, the Nigerian defence, which was anchored by goalie Francis Uzoho, nearly handed the home team a lifeline, but their faces were spared.
Simon had done well, and when Joe Aribo entered the game, he almost immediately had an impact.
But the Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper made a superb stop on the Southampton midfielder’s well-placed shot.
The Super Eagles hung on to secure a narrow victory that propels them back to the top of Group A. It was the final significant opportunity of the match.
They have now dethroned Guinea Bissau, who defeated them on Friday in Abuja by a score of 1-0.
With seven points from four games, Guinea-Bissau is in second place, ahead of Sierra Leone with five points from the same number of games.
According to NAN, on Match Day 5, Nigeria will play the Sierra Leone Stars.
(NAN)
