Super Eagles Shy of the Goal Post in Afcon 2023 Opener Against Equatorial Guinea

  

Nigeria draw with Equatorial Guinea in their first Afcon 2023 match with Zaidu Sanusi and Victor Osimhen missing clear chances, an open goal post as well as  a one-to-one sitter with E/Guinea's goalkeeper, Jesus Owono. 

Nigeria 1-1 Equatorial Guinea

The game which took place on Sunday afternoon at Alahassan Outtara stadium Abidjan, saw Super Eagles struggle to score goals despite creating more chances.

Super Eagles had 17 shots to Equatorial Guinea 6. The Nigerian lads also had 6 shots on target and 69% possession against the one shot which resulted to the only goal for Equatorial Guinea. 

 African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen led the Nigerian attack – and scored the equalizing goal just 2 minutes after Salvador open scoring for Equatorial Guinea in the 31st minutes of the game. 

Both goals came at the first half.

Most of the fans expected the second half to produce more goals, but that didn't happen.

The Napoli forward missed several good chances including a one on one sitter with goalkeeper, Owono, who worded off the ball with the scrap of his head. The 22 year old Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper eventually became man of the match.

Earlier in the first half, Zaidu Sanusi put a wrong foot to a ball he should have freely tap into an empty goal post, which put a big question to the effectiveness and professionalism of these Nigerian players. 

This match became three straight times Nigeria has never won any game - Nigeria 1-1 Lesotho, 

Zimbabwe 1-1 Nigeria 

and Nigeria 1-1 Equatorial Guinea.

Cote d'Ivoire leads group A with three points after beating Guinea Bissau 2 -0, follow by Equatorial Guinea one point and Nigeria one point in that order. 

Nigeria next match will be against the host, Cote d'Ivoire on Thursday 18, by 6:00pm Nigeria time.