Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea, 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Group Stage
· Africa Cup of NationsOsimhen on target but Nigeria held 1-1 by Equatorial Guinea
Victor Osimhen scored a first half equaliser but wasteful Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations Group A opener with Equatorial Guinea in a steamy Abidjan on Sunday, unable to turn their pressure into three points.
Match Timeline
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 1': Attempt saved. Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
- 2': Foul by Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea).
- 2': Moses Simon (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 3': Delay in match because of an injury Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea).
- 4': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 4': Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 4': Foul by Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria).
- 5': Attempt missed. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Alex Iwobi.
- 6': Offside, Nigeria. Victor Osimhen is caught offside.
- 9': Delay in match because of an injury Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea).
- 9': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 10': Attempt missed. Zaidu Sanusi (Nigeria) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Alhassan Yusuf with a cross.
- 12': Foul by Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea).
- 12': Zaidu Sanusi (Nigeria) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 14': Attempt missed. Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a set piece situation.
- 16': Offside, Equatorial Guinea. Emilio Nsue is caught offside.
- 20': Attempt blocked. Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by José Machín.
- 21': Offside, Nigeria. Victor Osimhen is caught offside.
- 24': Corner, Equatorial Guinea. Conceded by Semi Ajayi.
- 25': Attempt missed. José Machín (Equatorial Guinea) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Iban Salvador following a corner.
- 26': Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 26': Foul by Féderico Bikoro (Equatorial Guinea).
- 26': Féderico Bikoro (Equatorial Guinea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 27': Delay in match (Nigeria).
- 29': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 29': Attempt missed. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ola Aina with a cross following a set piece situation.
- 30': Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 30': Foul by Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea).
- 30': Foul by Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria).
- 30': Pablo Ganet (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 33': Attempt blocked. Semi Ajayi (Nigeria) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
- 35': Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 35': Foul by Féderico Bikoro (Equatorial Guinea).
- 36': Goal! Nigeria 0, Equatorial Guinea 1. Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by José Machín.
- 38': Goal! Nigeria 1, Equatorial Guinea 1. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ademola Lookman with a cross.
- 39': Foul by Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).
- 39': José Machín (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 41': Attempt missed. Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Iban Salvador with a cross.
- 41': Hand ball by Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria).
- 42': Foul by Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea).
- 42': Ola Aina (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 44': Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 44': Foul by William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria).
- 44': Esteban Orozco (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 44': Foul by Ademola Lookman (Nigeria).
- 45'+1': Foul by Victor Osimhen (Nigeria).
- 45'+1': Saúl Coco (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 45'+3': Attempt saved. Moses Simon (Nigeria) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Victor Osimhen.
- 45'+3': Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Jesús Owono.
- 45'+4': First Half ends, Nigeria 1, Equatorial Guinea 1.
- 45': Second Half begins Nigeria 1, Equatorial Guinea 1.
- 47': Foul by Ademola Lookman (Nigeria).
- 47': Féderico Bikoro (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 48': Foul by Ademola Lookman (Nigeria).
- 48': Féderico Bikoro (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 48': Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 48': Foul by Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea).
- 50': Attempt missed. Pablo Ganet (Equatorial Guinea) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Jannick Buyla.
- 53': Corner, Equatorial Guinea. Conceded by William Troost-Ekong.
- 54': Attempt saved. Zaidu Sanusi (Nigeria) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
- 54': Attempt missed. Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.
- 55': Attempt saved. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
- 55': Foul by Jannick Buyla (Equatorial Guinea).
- 55': Ola Aina (Nigeria) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 56': Attempt blocked. Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 57': Delay in match because of an injury Carlos Akapo (Equatorial Guinea).
- 58': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 59': Foul by Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria).
- 59': José Machín (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 62': Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 62': Foul by Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea).
- 63': Delay in match because of an injury Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria).
- 65': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 65': Zaidu Sanusi (Nigeria) is shown the yellow card.
- 66': Attempt saved. Ola Aina (Nigeria) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ademola Lookman.
- 67': Delay in match because of an injury Alhassan Yusuf (Nigeria).
- 68': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 68': Foul by William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria).
- 68': Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 69': Substitution, Nigeria. Samuel Chukwueze replaces Moses Simon.
- 69': Substitution, Nigeria. Joe Aribo replaces Alhassan Yusuf because of an injury.
- 70': Delay in match (Equatorial Guinea).
- 72': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 75': Substitution, Equatorial Guinea. Álex Balboa replaces Pablo Ganet.
- 75': Substitution, Equatorial Guinea. José Nabil replaces Jannick Buyla.
- 76': Attempt missed. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alex Iwobi with a through ball.
- 77': Attempt missed. Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
- 79': Foul by Ola Aina (Nigeria).
- 79': Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 81': Foul by José Nabil (Equatorial Guinea).
- 81': Joe Aribo (Nigeria) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 83': Substitution, Nigeria. Bright Osayi-Samuel replaces Ola Aina.
- 83': Substitution, Nigeria. Calvin Bassey replaces Zaidu Sanusi.
- 85': Foul by Álex Balboa (Equatorial Guinea).
- 85': Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 85': Álex Balboa (Equatorial Guinea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 86': Substitution, Equatorial Guinea. Santiago Eneme replaces José Machín.
- 87': Offside, Nigeria. Victor Osimhen is caught offside.
- 89': Delay in match because of an injury Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea).
- 90': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 90'+3': Attempt blocked. Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Frank Onyeka.
- 90'+3': Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 90'+3': Foul by William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria).
- 90'+3': Substitution, Equatorial Guinea. Luís Asué replaces Iban Salvador.
- 90'+3': Substitution, Nigeria. Paul Onuachu replaces Alex Iwobi.
- 90'+4': Corner, Equatorial Guinea. Conceded by Semi Ajayi.
- 90'+5': Attempt missed. Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
- 90'+5': Offside, Equatorial Guinea. Emilio Nsue is caught offside.
- 90'+6': Attempt blocked. Bright Osayi-Samuel (Nigeria) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Samuel Chukwueze.
- 90'+7': Attempt saved. Paul Onuachu (Nigeria) header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Bright Osayi-Samuel.
- 90'+7': Attempt missed. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is high and wide to the left.
- 90'+7': Attempt missed. Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Victor Osimhen.
- 90'+7': Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Carlos Akapo.
- 90'+7': Second Half ends, Nigeria 1, Equatorial Guinea 1.
- 0': Match ends, Nigeria 1, Equatorial Guinea 1.
Statistics
 EQG |
NGA |
|
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Fouls | 13 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 2 | Offsides | 3 |
| 3 | Corner Kicks | 2 |
| 6 | Saves | 0 |
| 49 | Possession | 51 |
| 7 | SHOTS | 19 |
| 1 | ON GOAL | 7 |
| 0.1 | On Target % | 0.4 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 254 | Accurate Passes | 262 |
| 333 | Passes | 338 |
| 0.8 | Pass Completion % | 0.8 |
| 2 | Accurate Crosses | 8 |
| 14 | Crosses | 24 |
| 0.1 | Cross % | 0.3 |
| 49 | Long Balls | 42 |
| 21 | Accurate Long Balls | 17 |
| 0.4 | Long Balls % | 0.4 |
| 1 | Blocked Shots | 4 |
| 6 | Effective Tackles | 7 |
| 10 | Tackles | 10 |
| 0.6 | Tackle % | 0.7 |
| 7 | Interceptions | 7 |
| 23 | Effective Clearances | 9 |
| 23 | Clearances | 9 |
Game Information
Competition: Africa Cup of Nations
Venue: Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara
Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Attendance: 8,500
Venue: Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara
Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Attendance: 8,500
Africa Cup of Nations Table
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Equatorial Guinea | 3 | +6 | 7 |
| 2 | Nigeria | 3 | +2 | 7 |
| 3 | Ivory Coast | 3 | -3 | 3 |
| 4 | Guinea-Bissau | 3 | -5 | 0 |
Line-Ups
Nigeria (4-1-4-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 23 | Stanley Nwabali (GK) |
| 6 | Semi Ajayi |
| 5 | William Troost-Ekong |
| 8 | Frank Onyeka |
| 3 | Zaidu Sanusi  |
| 2 | Ola Aina |
| 17 | Alex Iwobi |
| 4 | Alhassan Yusuf |
| 18 | Ademola Lookman |
| 15 | Moses Simon |
| 9 | Victor Osimhen |
Equatorial Guinea (4-2-3-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jesús Owono (GK) |
| 16 | Saúl Coco |
| 21 | Esteban Obiang |
| 11 | Basilio Ndong |
| 15 | Carlos Akapo |
| 7 | José Machín |
| 22 | Pablo Ganet |
| 4 | Federico Bikoro |
| 10 | Emilio Nsue |
| 8 | Jannick Buyla |
| 6 | Iban Salvador |
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