Nigeria held to draw by Equatorial Guinea in AFCON opener

Nigeria did not get the Africa Cup of Nations opener they had hoped for as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea in their opening match. Despite Osimhen cancelling out Iban Salvador's opener, the home side failed to score the winning goal in the second half.

Although Jose Peseiro's team dominated the first 45 minutes, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the first dangerous chance they created. Pepin received on the edge of the box and fed Iban Salvador, who beat Nwabali through a low effort to the near post.

However, Equatorial Guinea's opening goal was cancelled out in the blink of an eye when a minute later Napoli striker Victor Osimhen headed home Lookman's cross to the far post from the right flank.

Nigeria were not as comfortable in the second half as they had been in the first, finding it harder to keep possession and finding it difficult to create chances due to Equatorial Guinea's good defending. 

It looked like the home side were going to take the lead when Iwobi finally found Osimhen through an incredible pass, but the Napoli striker surprisingly failed to beat Owono in a one-on-one situation and saw his low effort go just wide of the post.

Despite the dangerous chances created by Jose Peseiro's side, Equatorial Guinea managed to keep Osimhen and Co. at bay until the final whistle, leaving Nigeria second in Group A, two points behind Ivory Coast.

 

January 14, 2024