AFCON 2023: Group A shakes up as Nigeria beat Côte d’Ivoire; Nsue bags a hat-trick for Equatorial Guinea
Nigeria landed a major blow in the race for knockout qualification by defeating hosts Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in Thursday’s titanic Group A clash.
In front of a packed Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, the two African heavyweights served up a pulsating contest.
The Ivorian fans were silenced when William Troost-Ekong converted a 54th-minute penalty after Victor Osimhen was fouled.
Despite relentless roars of support, the Elephants could not find an equaliser as the Super Eagles held on for a famous victory.
Nigeria managed the closing stages expertly to condemn the stunned Elephants to their first defeat.
The Super Eagles stood tall in the face of intense Ivorian pressure to land a psychological blow on one of Africa’s proudest footballing nations.
The 1-0 triumph lifts Nigeria level on four points with surprise package Equatorial Guinea at the Group A summit.
Cote d’Ivoire remain third on three points and likely need to beat Equatorial Guinea to reach the knockouts.
By subduing the hosts in their own imposing fortress, Nigeria have emphatically revived their AFCON campaign.
The Super Eagles stood tall in the face of intense Ivorian pressure to land a psychological blow on one of Africa’s proudest footballing nations.
Emilio Nsue grabbed a sensational hat-trick as Equatorial Guinea defeated Guinea-Bissau 4-2.
After a cagey opening, Equatorial Guinea took the lead when Nsue pounced on a defensive error to slot home on 20 minutes but Guinea-Bissau hit back through an Esteban Orozco own goal forced by Franculino Dju’s pressure to level on 37 minutes.
The Nzalang Nacional retook the lead straight after half-time when Josete Miranda fired home following a long goal kick.
Nsue then punished more sloppy defending to bag his second on 51 minutes and sealed his hat-trick just after the hour mark with an emphatic finish.
Guinea-Bissau pulled one back deep in added time through Ze Turbo but it only served as a consolation.
Nsue became the first player to score a AFCON finals treble since Morocco’s Soufiane Alloudi against Namibia in 2008.
The thumping win fires Equatorial Guinea top of Group A on goal difference with Nigeria.
With one games remaining, Equatorial Guinea now stand on the brink of a second straight appearance in the knockout stage.
