The super eagles they have booked a place in the second round of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations with a comfortable 3-1 victory over the Sudanese Falcons.
Two first-half goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Taiwo Awoniyi plus a goal from Moses Simon in the second ensured the Eagles maintained a strong control of the Group D lead with six points from their opening two games. The Sudanese saved a goal from the penalty spot in the second half of the match.
The Eagles kept up the same starting 11 they brilliantly did against the Pharaohs last Tuesday and started at a brisk pace, pinning the Sudanese in their midst. Samuel Chukwueze scored the opening goal after just three minutes when he coolly beat the Sudanese goalkeeper after a precise pass from Moses Simon.
Chukwueze vs. Sudan
The Falcons tried to hit back immediately, but Yasin Hamed was slightly offside after a pass from Abdelrazig Omer in the eighth minute. From then on, the Super Eagles took control, passing the ball even though they were guilty of a few stray passes.
Mohamed Al Rashed tried his luck from 25 yards out, but Maduka Okoye dived comfortably for the cameras. Coach Augustine Eguavoen could be seen on the touchline gesturing to his players to speed up the game as the pace slowed a bit.
Nigeria should have doubled their lead in the 36th minute, but Ali Abu-Eshrein saved from close range. Taiwo Awoniyi, for the second time in the tournament, hit the woodwork as the Eagles pressed for a second in the 40th minute. Awoniyi then created a great scoring opportunity for Joe Aribo to score his first AFCON goal, but his attempt was missed. it was deflected when it seemed easier to score.
The Union Berlin striker couldn’t deny that the ball came out of his head, albeit fortuitously, from a Troost-Ekong header to give Nigeria a 2-0 lead on the cusp of half-time. It was Awoniyi’s first goal for his country in his third appearance.
First-half stats for the Eagles indicate 61 percent ball possession; 11 goal attempts with six on target; and two corners.
Alex Iwobi came on for Chukwueze at the start of the second half as
Nigerian Super Eagles at AFCON 2021
he opted to withdraw the first scorer. The Eagles soon got their third goal when Simon got his due when he followed up his collected pass to Awoniyi. He ended up low beyond Ali Abu-Eshrein’s desperate grip.
Awoniyi was given a chance in the 52nd minute when Sudan captain Salaheldin Nemer misjudged his header and the ball fell to Awoniyi, but his shot was deflected for a corner. Okoye conjured a heart in his mouth in the 58th minute when he dropped a high ball, but quickly redeemed the mistake by grabbing the ball.
South African referee Victor Gomes was sent to the VAR monitor in the 69th minute to check for a possible penalty he scored after Ola Aina was penalized for holding a Sudanese player at a corner kick. Soft decision but Aina gave the referee a decision.
Walieldin Khedr sent Okoye the wrong way to record Sudan’s first goal in an AFCON tournament since 2012.
Substitute Kelechi Nwakali took a direct shot at Abu-Eshrein from a free kick in the 72nd minute. Awoniyi had another shot in the 74th minute, following a pass from Iwobi, but shot wide.
A defensive mix-up between Omeruo and Okoye almost gave Sudan a second goal with nine minutes left on the clock. Awoniyi left for Umar Sadiq. Umar collided with Nemer and both required medical attention on the pitch.
In the end, it was a comfortable win for the three-time champions as they confirmed their place in the Round of 16. Their last group match is against Guinea Bissau on January 19.