Super Eagles defeated Guinea-Bissau 1-nil in the last match of a Group A tie in the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, to qualify for the round of 16.
JOSE PESEIRO’S men went into the match with much-needed confidence after beating Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout from skipper WILLIAM TROOST- EKONG.
Guinea-Bissau claimed a hard-fought 1-nil win at the MKO Abiola Stadium on game week four of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series and were hoping for a repeat.
Meanwhile , Striker VICTOR OSIMHEN Victor made Nigeria’s intentions known as early as the 5th minute of the match but his shot went off the mark, barely troubling the opposition goalkeeper.
Despite early pressure from the Super Eagles, the Wild Dogs kept their composure and grew into the match as Nito tried his luck from a distance.
A point would be enough for Nigeria to go through but Guinea-Bissau were keen on denying them such an opportunity, taking the lion’s share of the possession in the early exchanges.
The Wild Dogs gave the Nigerian defence some trouble as DALCIO GOMES was not far away from getting on the end of an overhead ball that beat KENETH OMERUO.
Nigeria got a fortuitous break in the 37th minute as OPA SANGANTE smashed MOSES SIMON’S cross into his net while trying to stop OSIMHEN waiting behind him for a tap-in.
OsIMHEN had a chance to double Nigeria’s lead in the latter stages of the first half but he couldn’t strike contact with SIMON’S cross.
The second half resumed with SIMON missing a glorious chance to make it two as Mendes stretched out an arm to claim the ball.