Nigeria’s Super Eagles begin the quest for her fourth AFCON title on a shaky note with a 1-1 draw with a resolute and impressive Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder) of Equatorial Guinea in their opening Group A game at the AFCON 2023 inside the Alhassan Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan on a blistering Sunday afternoon.
Osimhen scored his first-ever AFCON goal after drawing the Supe rEagles level immediately following a shock lead by Equatorial Guinea through Iban Salvador Edu’s 38th minute curtain-raiser.
The duo of Stanley Nwabali and Alhassan Yusuf made their competitive debut for the Nigeria.
Alex Iwobi tried a long-range shot just less than one minute into the game which Equatorial Guinea stopped.
In the 5th minute, Osimhen had the opportunity to open the scoring after a mistake by the opposition but he blasted over the bar.
Zaidu Sanusi had a very big chance to open the scoring following a fine cross from the right but failed to direct his effort towards the goal with the keeper beaten.
In the 28th minute, Jose Machin had Equatorial Guinea’s first attempt on goal after a corner was clear but his low shot went off target.
On 29 minutes Osimhen met a cross from Ola Aina with his head but could not direct it to goal.
The Eagles continued to press for the opener and almost scored on 34 minutes but Semi Ajayi could not connect with Ademola Lookman’s low cross.
Equatorial Guinea scored against the run of play on 36 minutes through Iban Salvador Edu who slotted home a low cross.
But Osimhen equalised on 38 minutes as he rose to nod home Lookman’s cross.
Moses Simon almost put the Eagles ahead in stoppage time only to see his low shot tipped onto the post by the keeper.
In the 52nd minute, Yusuf sent in a dangerous cross into the box but the keeper claimed the ball well.
The Eagles broke on the counter with Iwobi finding Sanusi whose weak effort was stopped by the keeper on 54 minutes.
A few minutes later Osimhen went close once again the keeper denied him with a good save.
In the 65th minute, Aina beat his marker on the right but saw his low strike stopped by the legs of the keeper.
The Eagles were forced to a change as Yusuf went off injured on 68 minutes.
After being on the back foot for most of the second Equatorial Guinea fashioned a chance on the left in the 74th minute with a low cross which William Troost-Ekong cleared away.
In the 76th minute, Iwobi found Osimhen with a defence-splitting pass but the Napoli man put his effort just wide with the keeper to beat.
With three minutes left, Onyeka went in a cross which the keeper held well.
This is the first time the Eagles have failed to beat Equatorial Guinea.
Up next for the Eagles is a game against hosts Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday, 18 January.
