Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria: Own Goal Takes Super Eagles To Knockout Stage Of AFCON 2023

Nigeria has qualify to the knockout stages (round 16) of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, who exit the competition at the group stage.

𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐃! ✅

The Super Eagles join the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 round of 16 train! 🦅🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/OQsqVX0Ocj— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 22, 2024

VerseSports reports that an own-goal by defender Opa Sangante, who lunged in to stop the ball reaching an unmarked Victor Osimhen after 37 minutes, was enough to separate the two teams in a game that was far more evenly-matched that their respective rankings would have suggested.

⌚️ FULL-TIME!

One goal saves the day for the Super Eagles! 🦅#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #GNBNGR pic.twitter.com/SmawmvWR9D— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 22, 2024

The Super Eagles had the best of the chances, with Osimhen the constant threat, and they had two goals disallowed, both due to handballs by the Napoli centre-forward.

But Guinea-Bissau, who knew they were out even before kick-off, put in a strong showing and caused Nigeria plenty of problems, having a goal of their own by Franculino Dju chalked off for a tight offside goal.

The result means that Nigeria go straight through to the Round of 16, although progress as runners up behind Equatorial Guinea, leaving the Super Eagles to face the second-placed team in Group C, which will be one of Cameroon, Senegal or Guinea.

Moses Simon wins man of the match.

🇳🇬 Moses Simon 🇳🇬

Sublime performance for the Nigeria star makes him the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 Man Of The Match vs. Guinea-Bissau 👏#GNBNGR | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/zQIxDETIK4— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 22, 2024

Watch own-goal by defender Opa Sangante

This own goal is bad
Sangante gives Super Eagles of Nigeria the lead 1-0#AFCON2023 #AFCON2024pic.twitter.com/AmufElhKxT— Nnebemchukwu🦁 (@SageKristen) January 22, 2024