A 55th minute penalty from William Troost-Ekong won by Victor Osimhen ensured that the Nigerian picked up their first win of the Africa Cup of nations beating the host country Cote d’Ivoire 1-0.

The win helps them to go above the host with four points, while they dropped to third in the group behind Equatorial Guinea who were 4-2 winners over Guinea-Bissau in the other group game.

OwnGoalNigeria.com rates the players on show for Nigeria in the game.

Stanley Nwabali – He was full of confidence backed up with calmness and a very assured distribution when on the ball. Made two really good save especially in the first half when he used his body frame to deny Jean-Philippe Krasso after a huge mistake by Zaidu Sanusi….. 8/10

William Troost-Ekong – Showed no nerves when he converted what ended as the winner for Nigeria from the spot. Won everything in the air and was solid in duels. He looked really at home in a back three….. 8/10

Semi Ajayi – This has to go down as one of his best games in a Super Eagles shirt. Timed his tackles neatly and also carried the ball out of the defence with ease. Like Ekong he was very comfortable playing in a back three….. 8/10

Calvin Bassey – A fighter, warrior and more. Didn’t lose a single tackle. He came out top when the host tried to find a way back in the second half. Not so many times has he played this well for Nigeria….. 8.5/10

Ola Aina – By far the best player on the pitch for Nigeria. Bombed forward to create an overload in attack, defended nicely and showed some incredible foot work and body balance to wriggle out of tight situations….. 9/10

Zaidu Sanusi – His energy level was something else until he was subbed off . Kept Serge Aurier in check by taking the game to him. Some poor decision making blotted what would have been a perfect display for the FC Porto man….. 8/10

Frank Onyeka- Stuck to the task he was given, which was to provide protection for the back three. He broke up play with ease and also got stuck in when needed. A very disciplined and assured performance from the Brentford man….. 8/10

Alex Iwobi – The way he played without pressure even when Ivory Coast try to press him into making a mistake was majestic. Picked his passes correctly and defensively he was there to ensure the host were denied access to goal….. 8/10

Samuel Chukwueze – Started the game really well before fatigue led to his eventual substitution. Wasted three good chances to create an opening with a poor final pass. Still has some way to go if he is to reach the height expected of him….. 6/10

Ademola Lookman – He came prepared for this AFCON with two of his best games for the team since his debut coming in the first two games of the tournament. Denied an assist by a miss from Osimhen in a game where he was a menace to the Ivorians with the way he played narrow instead of going wide….. 8/10

Victor Osimhen – Surprisingly won the man of the match award. Won the penalty that led to the winner and all through showed himself to be a willing runner. Still has to show better nerves when in front of goal with two misses in today’s game….. 8/10.

Substitutes:

Bright Osayi-Samuel – Wasted a very good chance to play in Simon from a counter attack situation. Defended nicely though….. 6/10

Moses Simon – Slot in to business directly. Got into duels, defended deep and didn’t stop running as Super Eagles look to close the game….. 7/10

Kenneth Omeruo – Mopped everything in front of him to add more frustration to the Ivorian attack….. 6/10

Paul Onuachu –  What a cameo. Won three fouls which was more than any Nigerian player despite playing less than ten minutes…… 7/10

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has given his take on the Super Eagles 1-0 win over Ivory Coast at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The host were put to the sword by a goal from the spot in the 55th minute expertly converted by William Troost-Ekong following a foul on Victor Osimhen in the box.

Super Eagles are now one foot in the round of 16 ahead of their final group game against Guinea-Bissau, where a draw will be okay for them to progress. Ivory Coast on the other hand will take on group leaders Equatorial Guinea in their final group game.

Reacting to the win by the Super Eagles, Rohr said the coach of the Nigerian team got his tactics spot on, and the players responded to the task with a very good performance.

“Very nice win for Nigeria against Ivory Coast, who were not in the game at all. A very good organization 5-4-1 was decisive because you didn’t give the attackers of Ivory Coast any space. The five defenders of Nigeria led by the three centre backs did a good job”, he told veteran Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwuna after the game.

“In the midfield Alex Iwobi did very well with Onyeka and on both sides is Chukwueze and Lookman, they came back to help and to be in a best offensive winger when Nigeria attacks.

“It’s a very good result and I am happy for my former players, they have been criticized a lot in the past and they answered with this big match against the host country”.

He however warned them not to rest on their oars after this win reminding them of the 2021 AFCON, where they won all of their group games only to crash out in the round of 16 0-1 against Tunisia.

“But they have to be careful and still be modest in their minds and be humble because in the last AFCON they won three games in the group and then it was finished”, he advised.

“Each  match is very important but now they can say they have already qualified and with the players on the bench also. I was happy for Chukwueze because he deserves to start the match and Osimhen who always score a goal. I am happy for my Nigerian friend”, he rounded up saying.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The head coach of the senior national team of Ivory Coast Jean-Louis Gasset has explained why his team lost 0-1 by the senior national team of Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, OwngoalNigeria.com reports.

A 55th minute penalty from William Troost-Ekong won by Victor Osimhen ensured that the Nigerian picked up their first win of the tournament to go above the host with four points, while they dropped to third in the group behind Equatorial Guinea who were 4-2 winners over Guinea-Bissau in the other group game.

Reacting to the defeat, Gasset put it down to the Super Eagles playing a back five in a 3-4-3 formation and said Victor Osimhen was decisive for the fact that he won the penalty which led to the only goal of the game.

“It was a very physical match; Nigeria chose to play very low with a five-man defense to exploit counterattacks with their star striker. It was a tightly contested match. We didn’t give the impression of being able to compete physically. It was because of Nigeria’s best player ( Osimhen) that we lost”, Gasset said at the post match conference.

Nigeria will play their final group game against whipping boys of the group Guinea-Bissau while Ivory Coast will go in search of a spot in the round of 16 when they play the group leaders Equatorial Guinea in their final group game. Both games will be played on Monday.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria will line up in a 3-4-3 formation when they take on Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations like we first reported three days ago.

Coach Jose Peseiro kept faith in Stanley Nwabali in goal with back three of William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey. Ekong will play centrally while Ajayi and Bassey will occupy the right and left centre back spot respectively.

In the midfield is where the formation becomes a bit complex with the two wingbacks in Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi switching from their role as ring and left wingbacks to team up with the duo of Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka, who will play as the two men in the middle.

Onyeka per what we gathered is the deepest of the duo, with Iwobi playing a bit closer to Ademola Lookman who will occasionally play as part of a two man attack with Victor Osimhen, a role that is similar to what he plays for his Serie A side Atalanta to good effect. But he will mainly operate from the left.

Samuel Chukwueze will play on the right side of the three man attack.

Starting XI

Stanley Nwabali
Ola Aina
Zaidu Sanusi
William Troost-Ekong
Semi Ajayi
Calvin Bassey
Ademola Lookman
Alex Iwobi
Victor Osimhen
Frank Onyeka
Samuel Chukwueze

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has made two changes to the lineup of the senior national team of Nigeria for today’s AFCON game against Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Nigeria will be looking for their first win of the tournament against the host who were 2-0 winners over Guinea-Bissau in their first game, unlike Nigeria who were held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea.

Realizing the importance of the game, Peseiro has made some little adjustments to the lineup for the first game with a  switch of formation to 3-4-3 like we revealed four days ago.

Calvin Bassey go in as part of a back three alongside the duo of William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi.

In the 3-4-3 formation, Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi will slot in as the right and left wingback respectively. In the midfield the absence of Alhassan Yusuf due to injury means Frank Onyeka will go in alongside Alex Iwobi .

In attack the coach dropped Moses Simon for Samuel Chukwueze in the starting lineup, who has recovered fully from the knock that made him drop to the substitute bench in the first game.

Per what we exclusively gathered, those are the two changes the coach has made for the game that will take centre stage at the tournament by 6pm Nigerian time.

Starting XI

Stanley Nwabali
Ola Aina
Zaidu Sanusi
William Troost-Ekong
Semi Ajayi
Calvin Bassey
Ademola Lookman
Alex Iwobi
Victor Osimhen
Frank Onyeka
Samuel Chukwueze

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

A lot of people have been making predictions ahead of the senior national team of Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations game against Ivory Coast, which will take place today by 6pm, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria started the game on a not too impressive note drawing 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea, while Ivory Coast who are the host of the tournament got off to a flying start with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau.

A win for the host will see them seal a spot in the round of 16 of the tournament, while the Super Eagles will be gunning for their first win of the tournament to keep their dream of progressing to the next round alive.

Ahead of today’s 6pm game, the government of the country led by president Alassane Ouattara has declared a public holiday in the country and has instructed the closure of schools, banks, markets and every other establishment in the country.

The move is meant to mobilize fans to turn up at the Stadium which is the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé also known as the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in northern Abidjan.

Osas Mahawi

A lot of people have been making predictions ahead of the senior national team of Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations game against Ivory Coast, which will take place today by 6pm, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria started the game on a not too impressive note drawing 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea, while Ivory Coast who are the host of the tournament got off to a flying start with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau.

The game which is seen as the biggest fixture in the group has drawn lot of reactions and joining in on the debate ahead of the game is out of favor Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

37 year old Akpeyi, who was in goal for the team at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations said Ivory Coast will get the win they need to progress to the next round of the tournament, saying a Nigerian win will be an upset.

“It’s going to be a tough game against Ivory Coast as they are the host country. I am giving it to the hosts because they will have a huge support at the stadium but again this is football and anything can happen. I remember in 2019 Bafana defeated Egypt when they were the hosts, so if Nigeria show up they can upset Ivory Coast,” Akpeyi said.

Akpeyi who is now at PSL side Moroka Swallows went further to explain why the Super Eagles are not a force in Africa despite the availability of so many talented players, he faults the coach Jose Peseiro saying he has been unable to have them play as a unit.

“You might say the Super Eagles are a good team because almost all the players play overseas for some of the big teams in Europe but then again it’s a different ball game when you come together in the national team. You can have individuals but it’s very difficult to have a team and that [to have a team] depends on the coach to build a team. There are other factors like injuries that put the team on the back foot,” Akpeyi said on the sidelines of the PSL Player Transition Programme launch in Sandton on Monday.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro will make three changes to the lineup of the senior national team of Nigeria for today’s AFCON game against Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Nigeria will be looking for their first win of the tournament against the host who were 2-0 winners over Guinea-Bissau in their first game, unlike Nigeria who were held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea.

Realizing the importance of the game, Peseiro has made some little adjustments to the lineup for the first game with a possible switch of formation to 3-4-3 like we revealed four days ago.

Calvin Bassey is expected to come in for Zaidu Sanusi in a 4-4-2 formation or go in as part of a back three alongside the duo of William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi.

In the event of a 3-4-3 formation, Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi will slot in as the right and left wingback respectively. In the midfield the absence of Alhassan Yusuf due to injury means Joe Aribo will go in alongside the two others in Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka.

In attack the coach will likely drop Moses Simon for Samuel Chukwueze in the starting lineup, who has recovered fully from the knock that made him drop to the substitute bench in the first game.

Per what we exclusively gathered, those are the three changes the coach plans to make for the game that will take centre stage at the tournament by 6pm Nigerian time.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman