Nigeria beats Guinea-Bissau, secures last 16th spot in AFCON 2023

Ivory Coast, 22 January, 2024 (TDF): Nigeria secured a spot in the last 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, triumphing 1-0 over Guinea-Bissau at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium. The decisive moment came when Opa Sangante unintentionally redirected a Moses Simon cross into his own net, sealing Nigeria’s progression.

Offside drama in second half

Intense moments unfolded in the match as both teams saw goals disallowed for offside in the second half. Despite Victor Osimhen’s effort getting nullified due to a handball, the Super Eagles clinched the second spot in Group A.

Equatorial Guinea simultaneously dominated with a commanding performance, securing a 4-0 victory against hosts Ivory Coast and claiming the top spot in Group A.

Next challenge: Last 16 showdown

Looking ahead, the Super Eagles will face the second-placed team from Group C, which includes strong contenders like Senegal, Guinea, or Cameroon, in the last 16 on Saturday at 20:00 GMT.

𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐃! ✅

The Super Eagles join the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023  round of 16 train! 🦅🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/T4CqEfsJYD

— Total Energies AFCON (@TotalAFCON2023) January 22, 2024

Historic officiating moment

In a historic moment for the Africa Cup of Nations, Bouchra Karboubi created history as the second woman to referee an Afcon finals game, leading an all-female officiating team.

Guinea-Bissau’s entertaining display

Despite having no chance to progress, Guinea-Bissau showcased an entertaining performance. In the midst of a frustrating game, Victor Osimhen played a pivotal role in the sole goal, causing Sangante to divert the ball into his own net.

Highlighting Nigeria’s attacking prowess, Osimhen faced missed opportunities and a disallowed goal for handball. The Super Eagles dominated the game, constantly pushing forward, while Guinea-Bissau struggled to ignite their attack.

Even with Osimhen’s goal being disallowed in the 59th minute for handball, Nigeria maintained control. The second half saw Guinea-Bissau attempting to counter-attack, but they couldn’t break through the resilient Nigerian defense.

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As Nigeria progresses to the knockout stages, Coach Jose Peseiro acknowledges the need for clinical finishing. The unexpected collapse of Ivory Coast meant a point would have been enough for Nigeria to progress, emphasizing the importance of sharpening their attacking edge for upcoming challenges.

Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023

The 34th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has commenced in Ivory Coast, setting the stage for a month of sensational football. Ivory Coast, hosting for the second time, triumphed in the opening match against Guinea-Bissau with a 2-0 victory at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

Host nation triumphs

Ivory Coast celebrated an initial victory but faced a setback in their second match, losing 1-0 to Nigeria. Defending champions Senegal started their title defense with a 3-0 win over The Gambia. Surprises unfolded as Namibia secured their first AFCON win, and Cape Verde upset Ghana.

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Groups and Teams

Twenty-four teams, divided into six groups, are battling for supremacy. Teams are grouped in the following order:

Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.

Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.

Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, The Gambia.

Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola.

Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia.

Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania.

Schedule Highlights

The group stage runs until January 24, with daily matches at 14:00, 17:00, and 20:00 GMT. Knockout stages begin on January 27, leading to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, a match for third place, and the grand finale on February 11 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

Road to the Finals

Traditional powerhouses like Algeria, Egypt, Cameroon, and Nigeria face challenges against rising teams, heightening the competition. Favorites like Senegal, Algeria, Morocco, and Ivory Coast are expected to showcase their prowess.

Countdown to the Finale

The knockout stages promise nail-biting action, leading to the grand finale on February 11, where teams compete for the AFCON 2023 championship at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

AFCON 2023 unfolds, celebrating the rich tapestry of African football. Stay tuned for action, drama, and glory!