Nigeria handed Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast a 1-0 defeat of their Group A conflict on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Thursday with a second-half penalty settling the encounter. Captain William Troost-Ekong struck dwelling the fifty fifth minute spot kick after a VAR assessment confirmed that younger Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande had impeded Victor Osimhen.

The outcome means Nigeria transfer above the Ivorians within the standings on 4 factors together with Equatorial Guinea, who beat Guinea Bissau 4-2 earlier. The hosts have three. The conflict of the west African heavyweights was a largely languid affair, dominated by bodily battles and with few clear-cut probabilities created.

But Diomande, 20, was discovered to have caught Osimhen on the knee as the 2 tussled for the ball within the penalty space and Troost-Ekong blasted the ball straight down the center to settle the conflict. Nigeria supplied their hosts few probabilities in a robust defensive efficiency, taking part in 5 throughout the again and holding the tough dwelling assault at bay. They additionally regarded extra harmful up entrance with Osimhen squandering a very good alternative for an early lead.

“We put together a good strategy and my team did it well. I think we deserved the win,” Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro mentioned. Christian Kouame got here closest for the hosts within the first half however had his effort blocked by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

The Ivorians ran out of power early and regardless of 9 minutes of stoppage time, by no means regarded prone to break down the Super Eagles, who gained within the Ivory Coast for the primary time in 10 makes an attempt. “We could not impose ourselves physically but it was the small details that favoured Nigeria,” mentioned Ivorian coach Jean Louis Gasset.

Ivory Coast are nonetheless properly positioned to advance as they have already got three factors from a 2-0 win of their opener final Saturday towards Guinea Bissau. They meet Equatorial Guinea of their ultimate group sport on Monday whereas Nigeria will play Guinea Bissau on the identical time.

Both matches are in Abidjan though at stadiums on the reverse ends of town. Later on Thursday, Egypt and Ghana had been taking part in the final of three matches in at some point on the event in a Group B conflict. (Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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