Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau LIVE: Result and reaction as Super Eagles reach last-16
Plus updates from Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast as Group A reaches its conclusion
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Your support makes all the difference.The final two matches in Group A take place this evening as the Africa Cup of Nations enters the end of its group stages. Three teams, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, all have the chance to finish top of the table and set up an easier fixture for the first knockout round as there is just one point separating the sides.
Nigeria perhaps have the strongest chance. They are currently second in the table, behind Equatorial Guinea, but face Guinea-Bissau who have yet to win a match. The tournament hosts, Ivory Coast, take on the National Thunder in a huge clash that could leave the loser on the brink of an early exit.
The top two finishers automatically qualify for the next round with the four best third placed teams also sneaking through. Ivory Coast currently sit third but their three points should be enough for them to qualify though they would rather not take the risk. Victory over Equatorial Guinea would propel them up the table and ensure a place in the next round regardless of what happens in Nigeria’s match.
Follow all the action below plus get the latest Afcon odds and tips right here:
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
9 mins: A nice pass up to Osimhen sees him offload the ball out to the left wing where Moses Simon collects it.
He swings a deep cross over to the far side of the penalty area as Nigeria throw bodies forward but no-one can get on the end of the pass and the ball skips out for a throw in.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
6 mins: Guinea-Bissau lost 4-2 to Equatorial Guinea last time out and hope to respond positively against Nigeria tonight. Some lovely, intricate footwork in the middle of the pitch allows them to find a touch of space and the ball is across to Nanu on the left wing.
He makes a nice run down the line and looks to cross but the effort is blocked and turned out for a throw in.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
3 mins: Close! Nigeria have really started this match is fine fashion. Victor Osimhen is fed the ball over on the right side of the penalty area.
He takes another snapshot but feeds this one across the penalty area and sees the ball sail wide of the far post.
Kick off! Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
Nigeria get the match underway and work the ball up to Victor Osimhen. He brings it down, lets the ball bounce back up nicely then laces a shot towards goal only for the effort to get blocked by the closest defender.
Quick start.
Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau line ups
Nigeria XI: Nwabali; Omeruo, Ajayi, Bassey; Aina, Onyeka, Aribo, Osayi-Samuel; Lookman, Chukwueze, Osimhen.
Guinea-Bissau starting XI: Mendes, Mendes, Ie, Sangante, Nanu, Bikel, Nito, Quizera, Dalcio, Gomes, Gano.
Mohamed Salah to return to Liverpool from AFCON for injury treatment
Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool for treatment on a muscle injury picked up while on international duty, the Egyptian Football Association has announced.
The influential forward was forced off during the first half of Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations group match, causing concern for club and country.
It was later revealed the 31-year-old would miss the Pharaohs’ next two fixtures, if they progressed to the knockout stages of the competition in the Ivory Coast.
Mohamed Salah to return to Liverpool from AFCON for injury treatment
Salah will attend Egypt’s final Group B against Cape Verde on Monday before flying back to Liverpool for rehabilitation on the muscle injury.
Afcon schedule, fixtures, results and start times
The Africa Cup of Nations is back as Ivory Coast play host for the second time in the competition’s history.
Of the 24 nations taking part in Afcon, Senegal have been installed as the pre-tournament favourites, with a raft of top players including Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Nicolas Jackson.
But the reigning champions will face stiff competition for the trophy from the team they beat in the final shootout three years ago, Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, as well as Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon and hosts Ivory Coast.
The tournament is officially Afcon 2023, despite taking place in 2024, after it was pushed back several months due to concerns over the Senegalese heat in the summer months.
Afcon schedule, fixtures, results and start times
Ivory Coast host the rearranged 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as Senegal aim to defend their crown
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
Jean-Louis Gasset‘s disappointment at Ivory Coast’s defeat against Nigeria in the host nation’s second game was clear but things could still get worse for the manager.
The Elephants barely managed a shot on traget during their clash against the Super Eagles and they struggled to break downt he defence.
Gasset’s men occupy third in Group A, currently enough to advance as one of the best third-placed sides in the competition, though they will not want to rely on other results to get through.
Losing to the Equartorial Guinea would be a disaster and it would shock an already disappointed home support, who left Ebimpe in low spirits after Nigeria’s win.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
Equatorial Guinea have qualification all but assured after an exciting 4-2 triumph over Guinea-Bissau in their second game.
Emilio Nsue was the story of the encounter, with the 34-year-old becoming the first player at Afcon to find the back of the net three times in one game since Morocco’s Soufiane Alloudi against Namibia in 2008.
With four points already secured from two games, Juan Micha‘s men need a point from Monday’s clash to secure a spot in the first knockout round.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
Equatorial Guinea coach, Juan Micha intends on approaching the Monday’s match like any other game despite Ivory Coast being far off their best form.
Micha says the pressure is on the hosts to get a result following their 1-0 defeat to Nigeria and speaking ahead of the clash he claimed:
“It will be a very difficult match for both teams but more especially for Cote d’Ivoire because they are under pressure to win. We will approach the match in a calm manner. We will not wait.
“We know that they will come at us and open up which will allow us to surprise them at their own stadium. We know that they are under pressure and not us.”
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