The Super Eagles ran out comfortable winners in their highly anticipated clash with the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in their second game of the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Abidjan on Thursday.
Boxed to the corner after Equitorial Guinea shot to the leadership of the group courtesy of their comprehensive 4-2 victory over Guinea-Bissau in an earlier fixture in the day, the Eagles knew they needed to add more fire to their game if they were to come out with a decent result against the Ivorians who had won their first game last Saturday.
But against the prediction of the bookmakers, the Eagles who drew their first game against Equitorial Guinea on Sunday would steal a much needed win courtesy of a 56th minute penalty scored by captain William Troost Ekong following a foul on Victor Osimhen in the Elephants’ vital area.
Ekong had been brutal as he gave Ivorian keeper Yahia Fofana no chance, blasting a thunderous effort into the top right corner for the much needed curtain-raiser.
The goal had energised the Ivorians who fought vainly to come back without success.
The Super Eagles, however, had goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali to thank for a series of saves he made to thwart the forays of the Elephants who apparently sought an early lead.
The keeper who is the only home based player in the squad made of top Euro-based players was a bright spark in an otherwise tentative Eagles team in the early stages.
The Eagles who are now second in the group with 4 points, next play group whipping boys, Guinea-Bissau in their last game of Group A as they seek a consecutive knockout stage appearance.
FULL TIME SCORE
Cote d’Ivoire 0, Nigeria 1
√ Troost Ekong 56′
