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Three-time AFCON kings Nigeria sealed its place in the knockout stages of the 34th edition in Cote d’Ivoire after a slim 1-0 win over Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau in the final Group A game at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on Monday.
The Super Eagles went into their final group-stage match knowing a point would secure their progression through to the last-16, though even defeat might still have left them qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams.
It was a relatively sluggish start from Nigeria, but they took a narrow lead into the break. Moses Simon played the ball across the face of goal and, with current African Player of the Year and Napoli star Victor Osimhen lurking at the back post waiting for a tap-in, Opa Sangante smashed it into his own net.
In an open second-half, Osimhen went close on a number of occasions to getting himself on the scoresheet, having one goal ruled out for handball after he scored from a yard out, and then heading wide when free six-yards out.
Franculino had the ball in the net for Guinea-Bissau, as they pushed for a late equaliser, but the offside flag denied him, as was Nigeria’s Zaidu Sanusi when he then thought he had scored seconds later.
Nigeria did not find a second goal but it mattered not, as they saw out the match to secure a victory that sees them safely through.
