Nigeria’s debut in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations ended in a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
Ivan Salvador stunned the Super Eagles by breaking the tie with a stunning finish.
The Super Eagles, on the other hand, replied fast, equalizing within two minutes. Victor Osimhen rose above the rest of the field to meet Ademola Lookman’s cross and score with a powerful header.
In the second half of the game, no goals were scored.
So, what are the four takeaways from the encounter?
- Equatorial Guinea are no pushovers: Juan Micha’s team has a habit of surprise bigger opponents, and they came close to doing so tonight. Their forthcoming match against Guinea-Bissau could push them to the top of Group A before the Ivory Coast vs. Nigeria showdown.
- Nigeria faces a tremendous assignment: The Eagles showed fragility against Equatorial Guinea, and the task becomes even more difficult against the hosts in their next game. A poor performance against the Elephants could raise fears about an early exit.
- Peseiro’s tactical inadequacies persist: Jose Peseiro once again exhibited tactical weaknesses, unable to excite his team or make game-changing adjustments. Nigeria appeared to be poorly coached, without ideas and passion to win.
- Victor Osimhen’s area for improvement: Victor Osimhen bears the brunt of the Super Eagles’ expectations. Despite leveling the scores, the Napoli striker missed clear-cut chances to secure a decisive victory. Osimhen has two more games left to play in order to fulfill his duty as the team’s talisman.
