Nigeria rounded up their group stage campaign at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with a comprehensive 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau to maintain their 100 percent record at the tournament.

Sadiq Umar and William Troost Ekong scored for Nigeria in the second half in the game where coach Austine Eguavoen made as many as eight changes from the team that started the previous two games.

Owngoalnigeria.com rates the players on parade for Nigeria in the tournament.

Francis Uzoho  – Showed good distribution with his feet and also firm in his grip and positioning. Although he wasn’t severely tested…..6/10

Tyrone Ebuehi – Solid in defending and providing coverage for the central defence. Got high up the pitch a lot but didn’t do enough to make himself a threat…..6/10

William Ekong – The game played into his style of play nicely. Won his tackles effortlessly. Surprisingly distributed the ball nicely and as usual was solid in aerial duels. Capped his performance with a goal…..7.5/10

Semi Ajayi – He doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to do anything. So calm and assured in possession. Drove the ball forward with authority and performed his defensive duties admirably well…..7/10

Jamilu Collins – Ran the left flank all game long. Didn’t misplace a single pass and was readily available to be used as an outlet. Won all his tackles and capped an impressive night with a last ditch tackle to deny Guinea-Bissau a chance at goal…..6.5/10

Wilfred Ndidi – So much that he left every other in midfield playing catch up. Won and distributed the ball with ease. As usual covered the most ground to once again cement his position in the team…..7/10

Kelechi Nwakali – Deadly at set piece situation. Drove the ball forward twice where he showed his ability to thread telling passes. Dropped in intensity as the game progresses. Need to play more forward passes…..6/10

Kelechi Iheanacho – Linked up nicely with Iwobi and Ndidi. Didn’t look as threatening as he has been so far. His side footed well weighted pass set Sadiq up for the opener. Not one of his best games but yet so effective…..6/10

Chidera Ejuke – A delight with the ball at his feet with the way he goes past his markers but lacked the conviction to hurt Guinea-Bissau like Simon did when he was introduced. Yet to play at the level expected of him…..5/10

Alex Iwobi – Looked lost, bereft of ideas, slow and wasteful in possession. It’s apparent that he is having confidence crisis.  Although he showed his creative side when he moved in field following the introduction of Henry Onyekuru for the final ten minutes…..5/10

Sadiq Umar – Put his body where it hurts and carried a presence which unsettled the defence of Guinea-Bissau. Had some heavy touches and made difficult some easy decisions which would have earned him a goal. Took his goal calmly…..5.5/10

Substitutes:

Moses Simon – The star of the tournament for the Nigerian team so far. Picked up from where he left off the previous two games with another storming display. Completed seven dribbles out of seven including a solo effort which led to the shot that came off the bar for Ekong to stab home the rebound…..7/10

Peter Olayinka – Didn’t get involved as expected. Bullied off the ball easily and didn’t put the press to stop Guinea-Bissau from playing from the back…..5/10

Henry Onyekuru – Tried so hard to make best use of the minutes he was given. Ran with the ball purposefully and with intent…..4/10

Frank Onyeka – Solid as the pivot alongside Ndidi. Brought stability to the middle for Nigeria with his positioning, ball winning ability and also movement…..5/10

Olisa Ndah – Didn’t get involved enough to earn a rating but might fancy a career at right back as looked quite at home there.

RevolutionPlus Property, the official real estate partner of the NFF will be  giving  free lands in choice locations within its estates to the Super Eagles if the team wins the ongoing AFCON trophy.

According to Bamidele Onalaja, the company’s Group Managing Director/ CEO, the lands will be available in choice locations in  Lagos, Abuja FCT, Nasarawa,  Abeokuta, Shimawa and Mowe in Ogun State, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State and Port Harcourt Rivers State.

Onalaja who spoke in Lagos on the eve of Nigeria’s final group match against Guinea Bissau in the ongoing AFCON, said the gesture is aimed at giving the team a boost in its quest to win the continental cup for Nigeria and make Nigerians proud again.

In appreciation of the team’s performance in the competition so far and the need to encourage the players to do more for fatherland, Onalaja said “Now that the Super Eagles have qualified for the knockout stages of AFCON, RevolutionPlus Group will pay N1m for each goal scored by the team at every knockout stages of the competition” 

Onalaja also reaffirmed his earlier pledge of N4m to the team during the World Cup qualifiers and urged them to bring AFCON glory to Nigeria once again.

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has made 8 changes to the starting lineup for the senior national team of Nigeria for their last group game against Guinea Bissau.

Nigeria have already booked a place in the round of 16 of the tournament as group winners following wins over Egypt and Sudan respectively. Hence today’s game is of no consequence to the team.

However, Eguavoen insist that it’s an avenue for players who have not been given sufficient game time to show their worth and create competition for the others who have started the first two games.

Eguavoen named same starting lineup for the first two games but he has shaked things up by resting most of his starters bar three in William Troost Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho.

The game against Guinea Bissau will kick off by 8pm Nigerian time.

Francis Uzoho

Tyrone Ebuehi

William Ekong

Semi Ajayi

Jamilu Collins

Wilfred Ndidi

Kelechi Nwakali

Kelechi Iheanacho

Chidera Ejuke

Alex Iwobi

Sadiq Umar

The 33rd edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) has already made its mark as far as entertainment is concerned and with at least two Match Days gone, the favorites are sticking out clearly.

 While top nations have stepped up and lived to the billing, some have so far disappointed. Ghana for one, have not served the expectations of the fans and their star studded side has so far left the pitch disappointed twice. Algeria, the holders are at risk of failing to make it to the second round and we can’t wait for Match Day 3 action.

 Nigeria on the other hand, have had this smooth sailing and a perfect start has the Super Eagles in the second round after the opening two rounds. Cameroon have also been impressive, with two wins in two and already, there are expectations and predictions of these two meeting in the final eventually.

 The previews and predictions on SportyTrader have been good on these two giants of African football and rightly so, with eight titles between them. Heading to this competition, Nigeria wished for three things; a good start, winning the title and exerting revenge. A good start has been achieved and the remaining two could go on concurrently.

 The big question would be, what is there to be revenged for? This has to go back to the year 2000, when a sharp spear was stuck deep in the hearts of every Nigerian fan. Nigeria. Hosting the AFCON in that year, they reached the final, where they faced off with Cameroon on February 13th.

 With much optimism, and backed with a good run, Nigeria entered the final as favorites, backed by home fans and with an array of star players. The title was theirs for the taking and having just emerged from years of military rule, there wasn’t a better moment to crown it all. However, Cameroon had other ideas, taking a 2-0 lead, and going on to win on post match penalties after Nigeria fought back to equalize.

 Nigeria suffered the loss courtesy of penalty misses from Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Ikpeba and while it was not the first time they lost in the final against Cameroon, this was the most painful as it was at home and on the back of a great run for Nigeria.

 It is the reason a final pitting Nigeria and Cameroon is the dream for most on the African continent. For Nigeria it will be a chance to not only add to their three titles but also get revenge for the defeat inflicted on home soil 22 years ago.

 Nigeria have also lost to Cameroon in the AFCON final in 1988 and 1984. A meeting between these two giants and rivals of African football is always a spectacle and Nigeria can grab their prize after a near calamitous start to preparations, dominated by club and country conflicts.

 Such push and pulls have seen Nigeria play at this competition without three key players – Emmanuel Dennis, Victor Osimhem and Odion Ighalo, all who had been called up. However, so far the Super Eagles haven’t shown signs of missing the trio.

Interim coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen says he is open to the idea of leading Nigeria in a permanent capacity after the Africa Cup of Nations.

Eguavoen is on a short term agreement to manage the team for the AFCON before handing over to Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro who has been announced as the new substantive coach of the team by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

NFF via a press release said, the Portuguese will take over as coach after the AFCON and he will be in Cameroon to monitor the team at close quarters sequel to his taking over as coach immediately after the tournament.

However per checks done by OwnGoalNigeria.com, the Portuguese isn’t in Cameroon as said by the NFF and speaking ahead of tomorrow’s last group game against Guinea Bissau, Eguavoen voiced his intention to stay on as coach.

Reacting to a question on the fact that some Nigerians tagged him the best in the world owing to how he has transformed the Nigerian team at the AFCON after two games, he thanked them for the accolades and voiced his desire to stay on as coach if he is asked to.

“Thanks to all of them. I quite appreciate that. The truth is nobody is the best in the world. If they give me the job why not”, he said at the pre match conference

“This questions have come many many times but I’m very happy with the position I occupy with the Nigeria Football Federation and yes.

“If they asked me for it, yes and when we get to that river we will cross,” he concluded.

Guinea Bissau coach Baciro Candé has revealed how his team intends to punish the Super Eagles of Nigeria in tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations game.

Candé’s team are facing the possibility of elimination from the tournament if they fail to get a win against Nigeria who are already through to the round of 16 after winning their first two game.

The Nigerian team has been rated as one of the best team in the tournament so far but Candé’ says they have their weak side which he hopes his team will capitalise on tomorrow.

He however said his team will play their usual game even though they need the three points more than the Super Eagles who are sure to finish as group winners.

“Nigeria is one of the best teams in Africa. A very strong side. We will play our game and hope that Nigeria makes a mistake, some errors and may be luck will smile on us”, he said.

“We know that no matter how strong a team is, there is always a weak side and we hope to capitalise on that as we play Nigeria”.

Interim coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen says the team need will approach tomorrow’s AFCON 2021 game against Guinea Bissau with the seriousness it deserves even though it’s of no essence to the Nigerian team.

Super Eagles are already through to the round of 16 as group winners following wins over Egypt and Sudan respectively rendering tomorrow’s game inconsequential to them but Eguavoen insist they won’t take it easy on their opponents.

“We will not take our foot off the pedal. We will respect our opponents. We will have the same enthusiasm”, he said at the pre match conference ahead of tomorrow’s game.

Reacting to the area of the team that he thinks should be improved on before the round of 16 starts, the coach pointed out the poor conversation rate of his team as they should be scoring more base on the chances they create in games.

“It is not expected that the game will be smooth for 90 minutes. Our major concern is conversion. We have worked on that and we hope to see improvements”, he said.

The vice captain of the senior national team William Troost Ekong has aimed a dig at the ex coach of the team Gernot Rohr as they get set to take on Guinea Bissau.

Rohr was sacked few weeks to the start of the Africa Cup of Nations with technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Austine Eguavoen taking up the rein as interim coach.

Eguavoen has won over faithfuls of the team who have been impressed not just by the results but by the way the team is playing at the Africa Cup of Nations where they have won their first two games.

With top spot already guaranteed, the team will tomorrow take on Guinea Bissau in a dead rubber tie to the Nigerian team and Ekong was asked on the impact of Eguavoen in the team since taking over as coach.

“I don’t think there is any surprises. We have kept that believe in the team. We still managed to qualify for AFCON and pulled through to the World Cup playoffs. You can’t guarantee same game all the time. With the new coach there is fresh air. Everyone want to prove themselves”, he said.

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has been paid the five months salary he is owed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

The coach was paid the amount in Naira to clear off the backlog he is owed into his Nigerian account but he has been unable to gain entry into Nigeria as his work permit has expired plus he doesn’t have a visa.

It means he hasn’t been able to sort the issue out and sources close to the coach revealed he is bitter over the decision of the NFF to pay the money into his Nigerian account.

” They paid the money into his Nigerian account. He can’t access it unless he comes to Nigeria and he can’t come to Nigeria because he has no work permit or a visa to enable him do so. He is unhappy over the entire issue but it’s the NFF hence he isn’t surprised”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Rohr according to our source is still entitled to one year of his salary per the terms of his contract as it was terminated with no just cause judging by the fact that he met all of the clauses in the deal.

“Apparently the NFF are trying to avoid paying him the remainder of his salary as stated in his contract. It’s something that they can’t win as it is written”, he concluded.