Nigeria secured a 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations, thanks to a penalty in the second half.
The game saw Victor Osimhen miss a good opportunity to score early on. Ivory Coast responded with a promising attack, but Stanley Nwabili made a decent save. The match continued with both teams creating chances, as Samuel Chukwueze’s shot was also saved.
In the 15th minute, Ivory Coast had another strong chance when Christian Kouame set up Evan Ndicka in a good position, but Nwabili denied him.
Nigeria started the second half strongly, and their efforts paid off when Ousmane Diomande fouled Osimhen in the box, resulting in a penalty. Defender William Troost-Ekong stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, firing a powerful shot down the middle.
In the second half, Ivory Coast had possession of the ball but were not as effective as they were in the first half. They struggled to create clear chances, and their lack of creativity resulted in a narrow defeat, leaving them in third place in Group A.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Nwabili, made three crucial saves in the first half to keep his team in the game. He continued to perform well in the second half, making a bold decision to rush out and stop an Ivory Coast attack, protecting his team’s lead. Overall, the 27-year-old displayed an impressive performance.
Nigeria struggled to create scoring opportunities before Diomande’s tackle on Osimhen, which may have ultimately cost his team the game. Diomande made contact with the back of the striker’s leg while attempting to win the ball, giving Nigeria the opportunity to score the crucial goal.
In the final match of the group stage on January 22, tournament hosts Ivory Coast will face the current leaders, Equatorial Guinea. At the same time, Nigeria will play against Guinea-Bissau, who are currently at the bottom of the table with two losses.
