Nigeria faced a tough challenge in their opening game of AFCON 2023, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by underdogs Equatorial Guinea.
The Nigerian team began the match with a promising start, adopting a 4-3-3 formation with Victor Osimhen leading the attack and Ademola Lookman providing support from midfield.
Despite their early dominance, Nigeria missed a clear opportunity to take the lead when Zaidu Sanusi failed to convert a chance in the 11th minute.
Against the run of play, Equatorial Guinea managed to score in the 36th minute, with Iván Salvador finding the back of the net with a well-placed shot that left Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili with no chance.
However, Nigeria quickly responded, with Victor Osimhen, the recipient of the 2023 CAF Footballer of the Year award, heading home a precise cross from Ademola Lookman to level the score.
In the second half, Nigeria continued to push for a victory, creating several scoring opportunities. However, Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper Jesús Owono made some crucial saves to deny Nigeria the lead.
Despite Ola Aina’s individual effort being stopped and Osimhen missing a clear chance, Nigeria was unable to secure the win.
With the draw against Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria will now look to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming match against Ivory Coast, who currently lead Group A after defeating Guinea Bissau.
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