Umar Sadiq opened his Super Eagles goals account after netting in the 2-0 win against Guinea-Bissau, in their last Group D game in Garoua on Wednesday, Completesports.com reports
Also on target for the Eagles was skipper William Troost-Ekong who recorded his second AFCON goal after first scoring at the 2019 edition.
Interim coach Austine Eguavoen, has now equalled his feat of winning all three group games as Eagles coach at the AFCON 2006.
Guinea-Bissau had the first big chance on 10 minutes after Mama Balde failed to control a through pass before colliding with Francis Uzoho.
In the 15th minute, Semi Ajayi almost put the Super Eagles ahead, but his header from Kelechi Nwakali’s free kick went just over the bar.
The Eagles went close again on 19 minutes, this time through Chidera Ejuke who cut in from the left only to see his goal-bound shot blocked for a corner.
Umar Sadiq had the game’s biggest chance on 25 minutes after good play from Nwakali, but the striker failed to bury the chance despite going one on one with the keeper before being dispossessed.
Also Read – Live Blogging: Guinea Bissau vs Nigeria – Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021
Kelechi Iheanacho went close too in the 31st minute after connecting with Nwakali’s corner, but Guinea-Bissau keeper got down well to stop it from hitting in the back of the net.
With one minute left in the first half, Guinea-Bissau had a good chance to take the lead, but Jorginho’s shot from the edge of the box, following a clearance from a corner, went just wide.
Iheanacho almost scored from the centre of the pitch on 55 minutes but the keeper Palmed his effort over the bar.
But the Eagles broke the deadlock through Sadiq on 56 minutes as he slotted home Iheanacho’s superb pass with the outside of his boot.
Before the restart, the Eagles made a double substitution with Moses Simon and Peter Olayinka replacing Sadiq and Ejuke.
Guinea-Bissau almost equalized from a free-kick close to the Eagles’ box, but the effort came off Troost-Ekong and went just wide for a corner.
In the 71st minute Iwobi went close off Simon’s cutback but his shot at the edge of the box was blocked.
With 15 minutes left, Troost-Ekong made it 2-0 tapping into an empty net after Simon went past two players inside the box and hit his shot against the bar, which fell to the skipper.
The Eagles made another double change with Olisa Ndah and Frank Onyeka coming on for Ebuehi and Nwakali respectively.
Guinea-Bissau had a chance to get on the scoresheet following a left foot strike by Leonel Alves, but Uzoho parried away for a corner.
In the 83rd minute Simon went close again going past his marker inside the box but only got a corner.
With five minutes left, Henry Onyekuru was brought on for the impressive Iheanacho.
Guinea-Bissau had a good chance in the 87th off a strike from Frederic Mendy, but Uzoho spilled the effort before Ajayi made a timely block.
And in three minutes of added time the Eagles broke on a counter with Olayinka teeing up Simon whose left foot strike went just off target.
In the Group D’s other game played in Yaounde, Egypt beat Sudan 1-0 to qualify alongside the Eagles for the Round of 16. Mohamed Abdelmoneim netted the solitary match winner in the 35th minute.
The Pharaohs ended on six points after recording two wins and losing one game which came against the Eagles. They finished second in the Group D behind winner Nigeria who made it 100 per cent on nine points.
Sudan and Guinea-Bissau are out of AFCON 2021 after ending their group campaign with one point apiece.
MATCH STATS: GUINEA-BISSAU 0 – 2 NIGERIA
Scorers: A. Umar 56′; Troost-Ekong 75′
Venue: Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya)
LINEUPS
GUINEA-BISSUA:
12 Maurice Gomis (GK) – 2 Fali Cande, 5 Panutche Camara (23 Alfa Semedo, 69th min), 6 Braima Jorge Capt. ,11 Jorge Intima (14 Fernandy Mendy, 70th min.), 15 Jefferson Encada, 16 Moreto Cassama (3 Leonel Alves, 78th min.), 17 Mama Balde (7 Mauro Rodrigues, 88th min.), 18 Piqueti Djassi (9 Steve Ambri, 70th min.), 20 Mane Manconi
22 Opa Sangante .
Subs Not Used:
1 Jonas Mendes, 4 Simao Junior
10 Pele, 13 Frederic Mendy
21 Nanu, 24 Manuel Balde
COACH: Baciro Cande
NIGERIA:
23 Francis Uzoho (GK) – 21 Tyronne Ebuehi (26 Olisa Ndah, 81st min.), 3 Jamilu Collins, 5 William Troost-Ekong Capt. , 6 Semi Ajayi, 76th min.), 4 Wilfred Ndidi, 25 Kelechi Nwakali (8 Frank Onyeka, 81st min.),
14 Kelechi Iheanacho (11. Henry Onyekuru, 85th min.), 13 Chidera Ejuke (15 Moses Simon, 57th min),
18 Alex Iwobi, 24 Sadiq Umar (28 Peter Olayinka, 57th min).
Subs Not Used:
27 John Noble, 1 Maduka Okoye
22 Kenneth Omeruo, 19 Taiwo Awoniyi, 7 Ahmed Musa, 17 Samuel Chukwueze, 12 Zaidu Sanusi
COACH: Augustine Eguavoen
By Adeboye Amosu in Garoua
The post AFCON 2021: Sadiq, Troost-Ekong On Target As Eagles Thump Guinea-Bissau 2-0; Egypt Pip Sudan appeared first on Complete Sports.
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