Nigeria 3-1 Sudan in AFCON 2021: The Super Eagles go to the second round after a decisive victory

Nigeria 3-1 Sudan in AFCON 2021: The Super Eagles go to the second round after a decisive victory

 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria scored a 3-1 victory over the Falcons of Sudan on Saturday, January 15, 2022.

 

Touchaheat Nigeria reports that two first-half goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Taiwo Awoniyi, as well as a Moses Simon strike in the second, ensured the Eagles kept their grip on Group D top with six points from their opening two games, guaranteeing their spot in the ongoing African Cup of Nations second phase.

The Sudanese rallied in the second half, scoring from the penalty spot after an Ola Aina error, but it wasn’t enough.

 

The Eagles started the game with the same starting lineup that beat the Pharaohs last Tuesday.

 

After only three minutes of tremendous pressure from the Super Eagles, Samuel Chukwueze calmly tapped past the Sudanese goalie after a beautiful ball from Moses Simon.

Maduka Okoye made a comfortable save from Mohamed Al Rashed’s 25-yard attempt.

 

Nigeria should have doubled their lead in the 36th minute, but Ali Abu-Eshrein saved the day.

 

In the 40th minute, Taiwo Awoniyi hit the crossbar once more as the Eagles sought for another goal. Joe Aribo had a golden opportunity to score his first AFCON goal after Awoniyi provided a gilt-edged scoring chance for him, but he missed it.

 

On the verge of halftime, the Union Berlin forward assisted Nigeria in taking a 2-0 lead. It was Awoniyi’s third appearance and first goal for his country.

 

 

Coach Eguavoen wanted to rest his key players, therefore Alex Iwobi came on for Chukwueze at the start of the second half.

 

Mose Simon received his reward for all of his hard work in the competition soon after, finishing low and out of reach of Ali Abu-Eshrein.

 

In the 52nd minute, Awoniyi had another chance when Sudan’s captain, Salaheldin Nemer, missed his header and the ball fell to him, but his effort was deflected for a corner.

 

As the game progressed, in the 69th minute, referee Victor Gomes was summoned to the VAR monitor to review a probable penalty that he had awarded after Ola Aina had held a Sudanese player from a corner kick.

 

To make it 3-1, Walieldin Khedr sent Maduka Okoye the wrong way.

 

Substitute Joe Aribo, who had struck straight at Abu-Eshrein from a freekick in the 72nd minute, was replaced by Kelechi Nwakali.

 

With nine minutes left on the clock, a defensive mixup between Omeruo and Okoye almost gifted Sudan a second goal. Umar Sadiq took over for Awoniyi. Nigeria smiled to the bank in the end, and coach Eguavoen can now play his second team in the final match.

 

Nigeria’s last group encounter is on January 19 versus Guinea Bissau.