Super Eagles Off To Winning Start At AFCON
Kelechi Iheanacho’s brilliant first-half strike handed three-time champions Nigeria a deserved 1-0 victory against Egypt in their Cameroon 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group D clash in Garoua on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles produced one of their best performances in recent months to see off the Pharaohs in the clash of the giants Group D encounter at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.
Nigeria broke the deadlock in superb fashion through Leicester City striker Iheanacho, who found the top corner with his strike from the edge of the area.
The goal was nothing more than Nigeria deserved as they piled the pressure on the Pharaohs. The clash of the two group favourites had a one-sided feel to it with Nigeria controlling long periods of the game as Egypt struggled to impose themselves.
FC Nantes winger Simon Moses was one of Nigeria’s best players on the pitch with his speed and agility causing a lot of problems for the Egyptians.
Among the favourites to win this years competition, Egypt could not get a foothold in the game and rarely troubled Nigeria ‘keeper Maduka Okoye who was merely a spectator at times.
Nigeria could have added to its tally but wasted a few opportunities against a disappointing Egypt side with talisman Mohamed Salah. Iheanancho, Taiwo Awoniyi and Chidera Ejuke all went close for the Nigerian’s who were denied by the excellent reflexes of Egyptian shot-stopper Mohamed El Shenawi.
Augustine Eguavoen’s men comfortably held on for a deserved victory to get their AFCON campaign off to the best possible start.
“It was a challenge for me, and we put in a lot of effort and got the three points,” Man of the Match Kelechi Iheanacho said after the game. “We are happy with that. We have to do more in the next two matches and hopefully we can win both.”
The result means the Super Eagles sit provisionally top of group D, whilst Carlos Quieroz’s Egypt have it all to do in their final two group games, if they are to qualify from the group.
“I congratulate the players for the performance and victory. Egypt respected us but we played our way,” Super Eagles coach Augustin Eguavoen said.“We gave everything during the match, and we must play every game as if it were a final. We won the first match, and we will see what we do in the next.”
As dominant as Nigeria were, Egypt gave a disappointing account of themselves as their tournament got off to the worst possible start.
Carlos Quieroz’s men could not even count on their captain Salah for inspiration as the Super Eagles reigned supreme on a hot and humid afternoon in Garoua.
Quieroz will hope that Tuesday’s display can be put down to a bad day at the office as Egypt’s final two group games take on greater importance in their quest to qualify from the group.
Nigeria take on Sudan on Saturday at 4pm, while Egypt take on Guinea-Bissau at 7pm on Saturday.
Chidi Nwoke/CAF.
