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Super Eagles were an own goal away from a disappointing result against Guinea Bissau in their final group game of the 2023 AFCON
Nigeria squeezed out a 1-0 victory over minnows Guinea Bissau thanks to a first-half own goal from Opa Sangante in an overall lacklustre display from the Super Eagles.
The win left Nigeria on seven points and helped the Super Eagles to a second-place finish in Group A, which guarantees automatic qualification to the next stage.
How it happened
The Super Eagles and Guinea Bissau appeared equally matched for most of the first half despite the Djurtus resting players for the match.
Despite the early disappointment, and with the game ebbing to the end of the first half, Nigeria took the lead after a spectacular Guinea-Bissau own goal.
Nantes winger Moses Simon powered down the left flank before playing a cross in search of Victor Osimhen, but the pass was intercepted by Opa Sangante, who then sent the ball into the roof of his own goal to give Nigeria a 1-0 win.
Nigeria had the ball in the back of the net a second time through Osimhen, but the goal was ruled out for a handball after the Napoli striker appeared to handle the ball just before tapping home.
Osimhen had the clearest chance of the second half but failed to convert from a pin-point Ola Aina cross, sending his header just wide of goal.
Guinea Bissau thought they had secured an equaliser against the run of play when Franculino Dju beat Stanley Nwabali with a powerful effort, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
The same fate befell Nigeria seconds later, as Ola Aina had the ball in the net following a saved shot by Osimhen, but the goal was also ruled out as the Napoli forward was offside.
Nigeria held on to the 1-0 win and secured a place in the second round where they will play against the second-placed team in Group C.
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