TheCable

The Super Eagles began their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) journey with a false start against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday. The three-time African champions were profligate and often incoherent throughout the 1-1 draw against the National Thunder. The result was Nigeria’s fourth draw in the last five games — the other match was a 2-0 loss to Guinea. 

Nigeria will face Ivory Coast, the host country who began their AFCON campaign with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau, later on Thursday. The Eagles must snap out of their winless streak against the Ivorians or face enormous pressure that may leave them with little say on their stay in the competition.

The Super Eagles’ last win in a competitive game was a 6-0 defeat of Sao Tome and Principe in September 2023. The question on every Nigerian lips is; can Jose Peseiro’s Eagles return to winning ways and soar above the Elephants of Ivory Coast?

Ivory Coast started with a win

The Elephants were dominant and comfortable in their victory over Guinea-Bissau. The cheers from the home crowd had a significant impact on the performance of the Jean-Louis Gasset-led side.

Seko Fofana scored the competition’s first goal within just four minutes, while Jean-Philippe Krasso wrapped up the win in the second half after going close in the first.

The Ivorians were always favourites against a Guinea-Bissau team that have now lost all 10 AFCON matches played.

But the hosts, with several players missing through injury, were pleased to have started their campaign on a positive note in front of an expectant 60,000 crowd.

It was a far-from-perfect performance from the hosts, and Guinea-Bissau were left to rue several missed opportunities, but Jean-Louis Gasset knows the three points are all that matters at this early stage of the tournament.

Eagles grapple with poor form

Jose Peseiro’s squad is in a despicable form heading into the Ivory Coast clash.

It took the intervention of Victor Osimhen to help Nigeria rescue a point in the game against Equatorial Guinea after Iban Salvador initially fired the National Thunder into the lead just nine minutes before halftime.

Nigeria had 19 shots, seven of them on target, yet only one could get past Jesus Owono, the Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper who was named man of the match.

Peseiro criticised the team’s wastefulness, but he pointed out that the number of chances created by the Eagles is a positive testament to their productivity.

He will be hoping his boys are clinical against Ivorians.

Head to head

The two sides have clashed on 27 occasions. Ivory Coast have won nine against Nigeria’s eight. Ten of those games ended in stalemate.

The last AFCON meeting between both sides was a 2-1 victory for the Super Eagles in the quarter-final of the 2013 edition in South Africa. The previous clash went the other way, with the Elephants defeating Nigeria 1-0 in a group game of the 2008 AFCON.

Team News

Simon Adingra and Sebastien Haller are still doubtful but could pass late fitness tests to be involved in the game.

The duo of Franck Kessie and Seko Fofana would be hoping to bully the Super Eagles in a midfield lacking Alhassan Yusuf, who will not be available for selection after the injury he sustained against Equatorial Guinea.

Peseiro will likely overhaul his lineup following the below-par performance of players like Zaidu Sanusi, Frank Onyeka, Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi against Equatorial Guinea.

Victor Osimhen is expected to lead the line, and the Super Eagles’ hopes rest on the forward if the three-time AFCON winners are to pick a vital win.