Following the Super Eagles tame performance against Equatorial Guinea in the opening match at the Nations cup many Nigerians have lost hope in the team returning with the trophy
The Eagles drew 1-1 despite the array of stars in the team including African Footballer of the year Victor Osihmen
It was Osimhen’s quick-fire equaliser that spared Nigeria a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea in their opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Osimhen nodded in straight after Iban Salvador’s opener for the underdogs.
Goalkeeper Jesus Owono lived up to his name as the saviour for the team denying the Super Eagles what would have been an easy win
The stalemate in the Group A match in Abidjan means both sides are two points behind Ivory Coast, who opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday.
Equatorial Guinea, who are 46 places below Nigeria in the world rankings, celebrated ecstatically after taking the lead, but conceded straight from the restart when Osimhen converted Ademola Lookman’s cross and spent much of the match under pressure.
Three-time continental champions Nigeria are seeking to lift the trophy for the first time since 2013 but could not find a winner against opponents who had beaten holders Algeria on their way to the quarter-finals at the 2021 finals.
Equatorial Guinea return to the Alassane Ouattara Stadium when they face Guinea-Bissau on Thursday.
Nigeria take on Ivory Coast at the same venue in the subsequent game 5 o clock local time
The frustration grows for Nigeria, now without a win in four matches, which will further exacerbate the pressure on coach Jose Peseiro.
Although the injury-hit Super Eagles dominated the game, their lack of clinical finishing shone through.
Victor Osimhen continues to be the main carrier of Nigeria’s Afcon 2023 title chances – despite missing the clearest chance to win the game – and the Napoli striker has now been involved in 13 goals (scoring 11 and providing two assists) since the start of qualifying.
