Super Eagles Trash AFCON Host, Côte d’Ivoire 1-0

The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Thursday trashed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) host, Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire 1-0 in their second group game.

At the Ebimpe Olympics stadium, the match ignited a long-time rivalry between the two countries, which was crucial to their qualifying group stage, due to a 4-2 victory by Equatorial Guinea against Guinea-Bissau earlier in the day.

But Super Eagles’s captain, Williams Troost-Ekong pulled through in 55 minutes and scored a lone goal via penalty kick.

This decided the victory for Jose Peseiro-led team which held a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their opening match.

Peseiro adopted a tactical change by deploying a 5-4-1 formation against Cote d’Ivoire, which was a tweak from the 4-4-3 formation he used in the first match.

The 5-4-1 formation led to the introduction of central defender, Calvin Bassey, who was paired alongside Williams Troost-Ekong.

Also in the midfield, Frank Onyeka replaced Alhassan Yusuf, who sustained injuries during the first match against Equatorial Guinea.

The 5-4-1 formation against Cote d’Ivoire saw the Super Eagles struggle to have more attack at their opponents’ home, as Victor Oshimen was left bare.

However, 10 minutes into the match, Nigeria had an opportunity to take the lead, but Osimhen’s effort went wide.

A few minutes later, the host nation Cote d’Ivoire responded with attacks, but their attempts met the firm resilience of the Super Eagles defence.

After a series of football skills by both teams, the Super Eagles midfielders lacked composure, allowing their opponents to gain possessions.

The first half ended without clinical chances by either team.

But the resumption of the second half saw the Super Eagles increase the match’s tempo in search of goal.

The intense pressure gained momentum as the centre referee awarded Nigeria a penalty after a review of the Video Assistant Referees (VAR) of an attack on Oshimen, who was kicked on his leg by Cote D’Ivoire defender, Evan Didomande.

William Troost-Ekong stepped up to take the penalty, giving the Super Eagles the lone goal, that earned the team the maximum three points.

In the 71 minutes, the Super Eagles coach brought in Moses Simon and Kenneth Omeruo to replace Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman to strengthen the defence.

Paul Onuachu also replaced Victor Osimhen.

Ten minutes before the end of the full-time, the Super Eagles had a couple of opportunities but lacked the technical ability to convert the chances to goals.

The match ended 1-0 in favour of the Super Eagles, gaining a maximum of three points to stay in second position with four points in Group A.

Nigeria is expected to play its third-round group-stage match against Guinea-Bissau on Monday, January 22, 2024.

Comments

EHCON Unveils Tech To Phase-out Vehicular Emissions, Targets Billions Of IGR

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Registrar of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Dr Yakubu Baba (left) monitoring the processes while the Field Technicians runs the test with 3DATX Integrated Portable Emissions Measurement System (IPEMS) technology on Friday in Abuja. PHOTO BY CHIKA OKEKE. Committed to green economy, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has unveiled vehicular emissions testing technology, meant to phase-out million tons of carbon emissions from the roads and improve air worthiness. The technology, Integrated Portable Emissions Measurement System (IPEMS) which is the first of its kind to be used in the entire Africa, was designed to control emissions by connecting a 3DATX technology and software to a car while monitoring the process through a computer. IPEMS provides gaseous and nanoparticle measurements with a proprietary cartridge system. It is designed with three sensor cartridge ports that provides an opportunity to customize each unit for y

National Parks Panacea In Mitigating Climate Change- Olory

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Conservator of Park, Cross River National Park, CP Caroline Olory has disclosed that National Parks hold the key to mitigating climate change across the country. She stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at a workshop organised by the Development Agenda in collaboration with Environmental Media Correspondents Assodiation of Nigeria with the theme: "Climate Change and COP28: The Way Forward For Nigeria." The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) scheduled to hold in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will garner more than 70,000 participants, including heads of state and government, government officials, representatives of international organisations, business leaders, academics and civil society organisations. Olory lamented that climate disasters are happening at frightening rates in Nigeria, and a panacea to cushion the effect is the standing forest which serves as carbon sink that would absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. She informed

Emerging Diseases: EHCON Faults Health Workers For Neglecting PPEs

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja L-R: Registrar of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr Yakubu Baba and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Mahmud Adam Kambari during a Ministerial press briefing on Monday in Abuja. The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has faulted health workers for neglecting the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in treating patients taunted by emerging diseases. This followed the outbreak of an Acute Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) suspected to be Lassa Fever at the Accident and Emergency unit of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna State last week. News Rider reports that a circular issued on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, by the Acting Corps Commander of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, Brigadier General S.O Okoigi revealed that the index patient died at the hospital after presenting symptoms of febrile illness while three health workers died within 48 hours. The PPEs are goggles, masks, glov

News Rider

Search This Blog