AFCON: Super Eagles soar above Elephants in second group match

AFCON: Super Eagles soar above Elephants in second group match

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have defeated the host country, Cote D’Ivoire in their second group encounter at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

 William Troost-Ekong’s penalty in the second half, 55th minute precisely gave Nigeria a huge boost in their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Troost-Ekong rifled home after a VAR check deemed Ousmane Diomande fouled Victor Osimhen in the penalty area. 

Up he stepped and smashed down the middle giving the Elephant’s goalkeeper no chance.

Both sides had plenty of chances in the first half to go ahead but neither were clinical enough and the best chance arguably came through the Napoli striker. Osimhen got himself in behind but snatched at his strike and shot wide of the goal.

Seko Fofana also tried his luck on many occasions from distance but fired over the bar just as many times.

The Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire came into the high profile game on the back of a comfortable 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the opening match of the tournament.  

While Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea. Victor Osimhen scored the only goal for the Super Eagles.

After today’s  1-0 victory against the Elephants, Peseiro side will be locking horns with Guinea-Bissau in their last group stage match next Monday while Cote D’Ivoire’s fate will be determined via their encounter with Equatorial Guinea the same day.