AFCON 2024: Nigeria Narrowly Beat Ivory Coast To Go Up Table

Nigeria narrowly made away with a 1-0 victory against Ivory Coast in the second game of the group stages of the 2024 AFCON 2024. 

After a goalless first half, the Nigeria moved ahead from the penalty drawn by Victor Osimhen in a contest for an aerial ball with Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande inside the box. 

William Troost-Ekong neatly sent Nigeria in the lead from the spot-kick, sending Youssouf Fofana to the right while hitting the ball straight into the goal. 

The maximum points earned from the victory was just enough to get Nigeria to the second position of Group A behind Equatorial Guinea, who leads with the same points. The Ivorians followed in third with three points while Guinea Bissau sits at the bottom of the table. 

Quick Overview

It was an interesting game from the start with Osimhen getting an early chance to put the Nigerian side ahead but sent the ball just wide. The nearest after all was Seko Fofana's attempt from a difficult angle saved by Nwabili. 

Much of the second half was in the Ivorians' control even though the Nigerian side had tscored he needed goal from a spot-kick to make away with the maximum points. It was a hard-fought game for the Nigerian side, however, they did the needful for keeping the lead to win.