Breaking: Nigeria First to Zoom into AFCON Round of 16

Summary

Nigeria 1-0 Guinea
Kenneth Omeruo scores in 73′
Samuel Chukwueze replaces Iwobi 78′
Liverpool’s Keita substituted in second half
Nigeria beat Burundi 1-0 in opening game
Guinea drew with Madagascar
Nigeria drops Captain Mikel, Iwobi in action

Nigeria has emerged the first Africa Cup of Nation’s team to book a place in the knockout stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nation.

Kenneth Omeruo scored the only goal in the Wednesday’s tie between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Sily of Guinea played for the three times champion to reach the round of 18.

With a game at hand against Madagascar on Sunday, the Super Eagles now sit top of Group B after the end of game played at the Alexandria Stadium.

The result means that for the first time since the AFCON finals (also staged in Egypt), Nigeria won their two matches of the finals.

In the beginning, the Syli Nationale were more business-like, working three shots on target including one that rattled Daniel Akpeyi, before Moses Simon fired wide over the bar when he freed himself from the right.

The first half however gave way to a lively second half for Nigeria, during which Odion Ighalo, who earned all the three points for Nigeria after coming on as a substitute against Burundi on Saturday, could have scored if the Guinean defenders had not checkmated Ahmed Musa’s pass from a swift counter-attack, and Alex Iwobi forced a smart one-handed save from Guinea’s goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone from a snapshot.

Guinea now needs to beat Burundi on Sunday and hope for other results to go their way – in other groups to qualify for the last 16.

Madagascar have the opportunity to move three points above Guinea Thursday when they face Burundi.

Nigeria is the first side – along with Guinea – to play two matches in the ongoing tournament in Egypt.

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Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has dropped his captain, Mikel Obi, for the second group game against Guinea at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt.

Many Nigerians had asked that Mikel be dropped to the bench after his below-par performance against Burundi.

Other changes made to the starting 11 are: Odion Ighalo, who scored the only goal against Burundi, replaces Paul Onuachu; and Moses Simon starts ahead of 20-year-old Samuel Chukwueze.

With Shehu Abdullahi still out injured, Chidozie Awaziem consolidates his hold at right back with his first Eagles start since October 2017 while Leon Balogun starts his first AFCON game ever, replacing the slightly injured William Troost-Ekong. Ahmed Musa also starts after his substitute appearance against Burundi.

The starting 11: Daniel Akpeyi, Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun, Ola Aina, Chidozie Awaziem, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, and Odion Ighalo.

The Eagles won their first match against Burundi 1-0 while the Syli Stars of Guinea drew 2-2 against debutants Madagascar.

The match between Nigeria and Guinea kicks off at 3:30 p.m.