In a gripping AFCON 2023 encounter held in Ivory Coast, the Super Eagles of Nigeria clashed with the Elephants of Equatorial Guinea, resulting in a hard-fought draw on Sunday.
Despite setbacks with injuries to key players Victor Boniface, Wilfred Ndidi, and Sadiq Umar, Nigeria entered the match with confidence, spearheaded by the African Footballer of The Year, Victor Osimhen.
The game kicked off with a lively start, as Osimhen took a shot wide in the 4th minute, capitalizing on a mistake by Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper.
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Maintaining their momentum, Peserios’s men pressed forward, and Osimhen came close again after a low shot, only to be ruled offside by the linesman.
In the 37th minute, the Elephants surprised Nigeria with Iban Salvador calmly finding the back of the net, beating Stanley Nwabali with a brilliant finish.
Responding swiftly, the Super Eagles leveled the match almost immediately as Alex Iwobi provided a precise cross for Osimhen to convert.
The first half concluded with Moses Simon attempting a shot at the keeper’s near post, but Owono’s defiant save kept the scores level.
The second half saw Nigeria maintaining pressure, but missed opportunities, including an unfortunate clash between Osimhen and Lookman.
In the 67th minute, promising debutant Alhassan Yusuf was forced off on a stretcher, leading to substitutions as Joe Aribo and Samuel Chukwueze were introduced to bolster the Nigerian attack.
With limited chances for both sides, Osimhen missed a golden opportunity in the 76th minute, pulling a right-footed shot well wide of the near post.
Despite persistent efforts from the Super Eagles, Equatorial Guinea’s resolute defense held firm, securing a vital draw against the 2013 champions.