Nigeria took a huge step towards reaching the last 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over hosts Ivory Coast in Group A.
The match’s key moment came in the 55th minute after Ousmane Diomande caught Victor Osimhen in the box.
That allowed William Troost-Ekong to blast home from the penalty spot.
Roared on by a raucous crowd, the Ivorians pushed hard for an equaliser but failed to create a clear chance against a solid Super Eagles defence.
Nigeria leapfrog the Elephants to go second in Group A and are behind leaders Equatorial Guinea, who beat Guinea-Bissau 4-2 earlier on Thursday, on head-to-head record.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Ivory Coast
Formation 4-3-3
1 Breathing
17Aurier2Diomande21Ndicka3Konan
6Fofana18Sangaré8Kessié
20Kouamé11Krasso13Boga
1Fofana17AurierSubstituted forSingoat 67’minutes2Diomande21Ndicka3KonanSubstituted forDiakitéat 80’minutes6Fofana18Sangaré8Kessié20KouaméSubstituted forBambaat 67’minutes11KrassoSubstituted forKonatéat 84’minutes13BogaSubstituted forPépéat 67’minutesSubstitutes4Seri5Singo7Kossounou9Bamba10Konaté12Boly14Diakité15Gradel19Pépé23Sangaré26Diallo27Amani
Nigeria
Formation 3-4-3
23Nwabali
6Ajayi5Troost-Ekong21Bassey
2Aina8Onyeka17Iwobi3Sanusi
11Chukwueze9Osimhen18Lookman
23NwabaliBooked at 90mins6Ajayi5Troost-Ekong21Bassey2Aina8Onyeka17Iwobi3SanusiSubstituted forOmeruoat 80’minutes11ChukwuezeSubstituted forSimonat 72’minutes9OsimhenSubstituted forOnuachuat 88’minutes18LookmanSubstituted forOsayi-Samuelat 79’minutesSubstitutes1Uzoho7Musa10Aribo12Osayi-Samuel13Onyemaechi14Iheanacho15Simon19Onuachu20Awaziem22Omeruo24Moffi25Onyedika
Live Text
Match ends, Ivory Coast 0, Nigeria 1.
Second Half ends, Ivory Coast 0, Nigeria 1.
Hand ball by Franck Kessié (Ivory Coast).
Ousmane Diomande (Côte d’Ivoire) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paul Onuachu (Nigeria).
Nicolas Pépé (Côte d’Ivoire) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paul Onuachu (Nigeria).
Foul by Evan Ndicka (Côte d’Ivoire).
Paul Onuachu (Nigeria) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Evan Ndicka (Côte d’Ivoire).
Paul Onuachu (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ousmane Diomande (Côte d’Ivoire) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Bright Osayi-Samuel (Nigeria).
Stanley Nwabali (Nigeria) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Oumar Diakité (Ivory Coast).
Paul Onuachu (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Evan Ndicka (Côte d’Ivoire) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Nicolas Pépé with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Côte d’Ivoire. Conceded by Calvin Bassey.
Hand ball by Paul Onuachu (Nigeria).
Attempt missed. Ibrahim Sangaré (Côte d’Ivoire) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right. Assisted by Franck Kessié.