How Nigeria beat Guinea-Bissau 1-0 to progress to Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals

While Nigeria are into the knockouts, they might be worried about the form of Osimhen.

He is undoubtedly their star man, but he has looked a mile off his best at AFCON 2023 so far.

The 25-year-old did score in the first group game, but that is his only goal from 13 shots at the tournament. To compound matters, it was his fault that Nigeria had two goals chalked off in today’s game.

If Nigeria hope to get to the latter stages, Osimhen will need to quickly find his shooting boots.

After these results:

• Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
• Equatorial Guinea 4-0 Ivory Coast

Here is how the final Group A table looks:

1. Equatorial Guinea – PTS: 7, GD: 6
2. Nigeria – PTS: 7, GD: 2
3. Ivory Coast – PTS: 3, GD: -3
4. Guinea-Bissau – PTS: 0, GD: -5

The Nigerian fans brought the noise throughout the win and their celebrations will continue long into the Ivorian night!

While this game just went to the script, the one between Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea certainly did not.

The tournament hosts had two goals disallowed in a 4-0 thumping by the team who have secured top spot in Group A.

AFCON top goalscorer Nsue added another two goals to his tally while Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla were also on the scoresheet.

Boos rang out around the stadium at full time.

90+4′ Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

That is perhaps the best compliment for Guinea-Bissau, that a Nigeria player is willing to take a yellow card for time wasting against them.

It has been a spirited performance and one they can count themselves somewhat unlucky to be losing.

90+1′ Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

We are being treated to five more minutes of this entertaining second half.

I wonder whether there will be any more goals to disallow!

87′ Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

This second half has been pure, unbridled AFCON chaos.

There have been big chances for both teams and disallowed goals for both teams. It has transpired that Osimhen handled the ball (again) in the build up to Nigeria’s most recently disallowed goal.

That’s two goals that have been spoiled by his flailing arms!

84′ Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

If only the players in this match could stay onside!

Straight after Guinea-Bissau have a goal denied by the offside flag, Nigeria have one of their own.

Iwobi picked out the run of Osimhen whose initial shot was saved, only for substitute Sanusi to finish from close range.

But, no. Offside again!

81′ Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

And Guinea-Bissau almost make Osimhen pay for his missed opportunities.

Firstly, Nwabili gets down well to keep out a curling free kick and, from the resulting corner, Nito’s header flashes wide of the near post.

This game is far from over!

78′ Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

Osimhen cannot believe that he has not scored in this game.

Aina loads another brilliant, inviting cross into the penalty area for him to attack and he somehow heads wide. If I was a betting man, I would have had all my money on the Napoli man scoring that header.

His wastefulness in front of goal might be something of a worry for the Nigerians as they advance through this tournament.

75′ Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

It is time for the second-half cooling break. So here’s an update from the other game in Group A.

Ivory Coast are 3-0 down against Equatorial Guinea, a result which will consign Nigeria to second place in the group.

After the second goal was ruled out for the tournament hosts, Pablo Ganet curled in a wonderful free kick. A minute later, straight from kick off, the defence was wide open and Nsue netted his fifth of the tournament.

Here is how it leaves Group A:

1. Equatorial Guinea – PTS: 7, GD: 5
2. Nigeria – PTS: 7, GD: 2
3. Ivory Coast – PTS: 3, GD: -2
4. Guinea-Bissau – PTS: 0, GD: -5

71′ Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

It’s still 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea in the other Group A game.

But Ivory Coast had a Sangare goal ruled out in the first half and now another has been chalked off.

Talisman Seko Fofana received the ball from the right wing, slid in a gorgeous reverse pass behind the defence to Jean-Philippe Krasso who bent the ball beautifully into the bottom-left corner.

But replays showed he was narrowly offside.

68′ Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

The man with arguably the best name at AFCON is into the action.

Ze Turbo, yes that’s his name, has replaced Quizera.

64′ Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

Off the bench and straight into the action.

Simon does brilliantly to jinx past two or three Guinea-Bissau defenders and lays the ball on a plate for Iwobi on the edge of the penalty area. The Fulham man can’t quite direct his low effort on target, though.