Nigeria Vs Equatorial Guinea: AFCON match preview
Nigeria will face Equatorial Guinea in a group A fixture of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. SportsRation presents preview of the match.
MATCH DETAILS
Tournament: 2023 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON]
Stage: Group stage
Fixture: Nigeria Vs Equatorial Guinea
Venue: Alassana Oauttara Stadium, Abidjan
Date: Sunday, January 14, 2024
Time: 3pm
ABOUT THE MATCH
Tournament hosts, Cote d’Ivoire defeated Guinea Bissau 2-0 in the opening game to set the race for who qualifies from group A underway.
Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea will look to win this game to put themselves in perfect stead for what will be a keenly contested group stage.
Jose Peseiro of Nigeria and Coach Juan Micha of Equatorial Guinea have already set their sights on getting off to a winning start.
On paper, the Super Eagles of Nigeria are favourites to win this game but that will not come easy with their opponents unbeaten in eleven games.
Nigeria is blessed with attacking potentials, and so will bank on their forwards though depleted through injury to sail through at the Alassana Oauttara Stadium.
The Super Eagles did not fare any better at the previous AFCON, eliminated in the round of 16 after inspired performances in the group stage gave way when the three-time African champions faced a coherent team in Tunisia in the first knockout round.
Victor Osimhen is Nigeria’s best player heading into this tournament, and the current African Footballer of the Year, who ended as the leading scorer in qualifying (10 goals), will carry Nigeria’s hopes for this Group A fixture.
Peseiro’s men lost their final friendly game before the Cup of Nations – a 2-0 loss to Guinea – which has resurrected doubts about the technical crew’s tactical ability and the squad’s imbalance before their tournament opener.
For the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea, they will look to reach or surpass their last eight status whenever they participate at the AFCON, and so will be motivated for Sunday’s fixture.
Equatorial Guinea went undefeated throughout 2023 and claiming victories in World Cup qualifying games against Namibia and Liberia without conceding a goal.
The Nzalang Nacional’s top victory of the previous year came in their 1-0 success over Tunisia in AFCON qualifying, giving them confidence in securing another shock victory against a Nigeria side who look short of confidence during to injury to key players.
Nigeria possible starting lineup:
Uzoho; Aina, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Onyeka, Aribo, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Simon; , Osimhen
Equatorial Guinea possible starting lineup:
Owono; Akapo, Anieboh, Orozco, Ndong; Ganet, Bikoro; Miranda, Machin, Salvador; Nsue
PREDICTION
Tight game expected but with Nigeria’s experience and pedigree as three-time champions of Africa, we say Nigeria win 2-1.
READ ALSO: 2023 Nations Cup: Cote d’Ivoire stroll to win in opener against Guinea-Bissau
