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.
