Nigeria’s Super Eagles recaptured first place in Group A of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Monday with a 1-0 victory over the Wild Dogs at the Estádio Setembro.
The Super Eagles were defeated 1-0 in the opening leg of the contest last Friday by the Guinea-Bissau team.
With a high-pressure game that prompted a penalty in the 30th minute after Moses Simon was pulled down on the right flank inside the box, Jose Peseiro’s side turned over a new page.
The Portuguese made five changes to the starting lineup from the last game, which ended in a heartbreaking defeat.
Semi Ajayi and Kenneth Omeruo came in for Carvin Bassey and Kevin Akpoguma, while Frank Onyeka replaced the rusty Wilfred Ndidi.
Terem Moffi and Simon were selected ahead of Kelechi Ihenacho and Ademola Lookman in the attack.
The team reshuffle demonstrated the demand that Peseiro and Nigerians placed on the Eagles.
The players’ reaction was appropriate.
Nigeria almost took the lead within the first two minutes, but Omeruo’s header from a corner kick was palmed away by Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper Jonas Mendes.
Moffi’s effort was also blocked by the ever-present green line of Djurtus defenders, before the striker squandered an even greater chance after muscling his way into the goal area and skipping the ball in front of Mendes.
Nigeria, on the other hand, took a deserved lead in the 30th minute when Fali Cande scythed down a marauding Bright Osayi-Samuel in the goal area.
Simon made no mistake with the subsequent penalty kick, sending Mendes the wrong way with a low right-footed strike.
It was the Eagles’ first goal in four games, and it was a big one that took the heat off them in the tie.
Victor Osimhen nearly made it two in the second half, but his shot smacked against the inside of the upright, much to the striker’s chagrin.
Nigeria now leads the group with nine points from four games, two points more than Guinea-Bissau.
The Eagles will travel to Sierra Leone in June before facing Sao Tome and Principe in the qualification series’ final game.
The top two in the group will receive an automatic ticket to Ivory Coast’s forthcoming 2024 AFCON.
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