AFCON 2023: Equatorial Guinea surprise football world: Nigeria advance to last 16
Equatorial Guinea caused one of the upsets at this year’s AFCON with a 4-0 annihilation of tournament hosts in their Group A match on Monday.
Nzalang Nacional produced a seismic shock in world football by thrashing the Elephants in the game played at Ebimpe’s Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.
In one of the competition’s greatest upsets, the minnows ripped apart the fancied Ivorians thanks to a Emilio Nsue double and goals from Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla.
Nsue’s brace extended his lead on the goalscoring charts to five along with firther strikes by Pablo Ganet and Jannick Bulya that saw Equatorial Guinea stun the world of football.
The Nzalang Nacional advance to the knock out stage of the tournament as they finish top of the group even though they are level on seven points with second-placed Nigeria.
The result leaves the home side’s chances of progessing to the knock-out phase hnaging by a thread as they finish third place in Group A.
Nigeria completed their qualification to the knockout stage following their slim 1-0 win over Guinea Bissau.
Victor Osimhen was presented with a great opportunity and he fired a shot with his right foot but went past the goal post the early minutes.
Nigeria continued to be more dangerous up front with some great chances but kept missing them.
However, by attacking, José Peseiro’s men ended up being rewarded with a counterattack led by Ola Aina who found Moses Simon before his cross landed on Opa Sanganté who put the ball in his own net.
Nigeria kept pressing even after going up by a goal to nil in the second half in search of more goals.
Twice, Samuel Chukwueze missed his one-on-one meeting with Jonas Mendes. In the 59th minute, Osimhen’s effort ended up in the net but was flagged offside.
It ended 1-0 and the results mean, Nigeria with 7 points have progressed to the round of 16 where they will face the team that finish second in Group C on Saturday, 27 January.
