Nigeria handed Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast a 1-0 defeat of their Group A conflict on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Thursday with a second-half penalty settling the encounter.
Captain William Troost-Ekong struck dwelling the fifty fifth minute spot kick after a VAR evaluation confirmed that younger Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande had impeded Victor Osimhen.
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The consequence means Nigeria transfer above the Ivorians within the standings on 4 factors together with Equatorial Guinea, who beat Guinea Bissau 4-2 earlier. The hosts have three.
The conflict of the west African heavyweights was a largely languid affair, dominated by bodily battles and with few clear-cut possibilities created.
However Diomande, 20, was discovered to have caught Osimhen on the knee as the 2 tussled for the ball within the penalty space and Troost-Ekong blasted the ball straight down the center to settle the conflict.
Nigeria supplied their hosts few possibilities in a robust defensive efficiency, enjoying 5 throughout the again and protecting the difficult dwelling assault at bay. In addition they regarded extra harmful up entrance with Osimhen squandering a very good alternative for an early lead.
“We put collectively a very good technique and my workforce did it effectively. I feel we deserved the win,” Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro mentioned.
Christian Kouame got here closest for the hosts within the first half however had his effort blocked by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
The Ivorians ran out of vitality early and regardless of 9 minutes of stoppage time, by no means regarded prone to break down the Tremendous Eagles, who received within the Ivory Coast for the primary time in 10 makes an attempt.
“We couldn’t impose ourselves bodily but it surely was the small particulars that favoured Nigeria,” mentioned Ivorian coach Jean Louis Gasset.
Ivory Coast are nonetheless effectively positioned to advance as they have already got three factors from a 2-0 win of their opener final Saturday in opposition to Guinea Bissau.
They meet Equatorial Guinea of their remaining group sport on Monday whereas Nigeria will play Guinea Bissau on the similar time.
Each matches are in Abidjan though at stadiums on the reverse ends of the town.