AFCON2023: After thrashing unknown team, a known Guinea humiliate Super Eagles

The Super Eagles of Nigeria were made to rue several missed opportunities following a narrow defeat to Guinea in a pre-AFCON2023 friendly on Monday.

Guinea defeated Nigeria 2-0 in a match played at the Baniyas Stadium in Abu Dhabi, just 24 hours after Jose Peseiro’s Eagles thrashed a team 12-0 in a behind-closed-door encounter.

Two goals in either half saw the Syli Nationale prove just too good for their more illustrious opponents, with Nantes’ Moses Simon the villain for Nigeria. 

Aguibou Camara opened the scoring for Guinea before Nigeria got a lifeline when the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty.

However, the ever-reliable Moses stepped up to the plate but missed from 12 yards to give Guinea a slim lead at the break.

In the second half, it was the Guineans who added to the scoreline when Facinet Conté doubled their advantage after the hour mark. 

Nigeria started the friendly positively and on the front foot, with Samuel Chukwueze, Chidozie Awaziem and Simon all coming close in the first 13 minutes.

However, against the run of play, Guinea took charge of the encounter when Camara bounced to open the scoring and put them ahead in the 14th minute.

The Super Eagles reacted well to going behind and were awarded a chance back into the game following a foul in the box on Umar Sadiq five minutes after Guinea's opener.

The referee pointed to the spot but Ligue 1-based Simon missed the resultant kick to preserve Guinea’s lead at the break despite other chances coming via Sadiq and Chukwueze.

It was more of the same in the second half and despite several changes from Peseiro to salvage something from the clash, it was Guinea who scored the next goal courtesy of Conte.