AFCON 2023: Osimhen saves Nigeria in draw with Equatorial Guinea in group opener

Osimhen saves Nigeria in draw with Equatorial Guinea in group opener



Nigeria’s start to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations didn’t unfold as anticipated, as they faced a challenging encounter against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday afternoon in Abidjan.

Victor Osimhen swiftly equalized, preventing Nigeria from a surprising defeat against Equatorial Guinea. The Napoli striker headed in a goal immediately after Iban Salvador’s opener for the underdog team.

Salvador’s impressive first-half goal was the only shot on target for his side, momentarily posing a threat for a significant upset in the tournament’s second game.

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In the second half, Jesus Owono made several crucial saves to thwart the Super Eagles, and Osimhen missed a chance after breaking free.

The draw in the Group A match positions both teams two points behind Ivory Coast, who kicked off the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday.

Equatorial Guinea will return to the Alassane Ouattara Stadium to face Guinea-Bissau on Thursday (14:00 GMT).

Nigeria, in their subsequent match at the same venue (17:00 GMT), will take on Ivory Coast, setting the stage for a clash between two teams widely considered strong contenders for the title.