Victor Osimhen’s quick-fire equaliser spared Nigeria a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea in their opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Osimhen nodded in straight after Iban Salvador’s opener for the underdogs.
Salvador’s classy first-half finish was his side’s only attempt on target and briefly threatened a significant upset in the second game of the tournament.
Jesus Owono made several second-half saves to deny the Super Eagles, and Osimhen missed after breaking clear.
The stalemate in the Group A match in Abidjan means both sides are two points behind Ivory Coast, who opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday.
Equatorial Guinea, who are 46 places below Nigeria in the world rankings, celebrated ecstatically after taking the lead, but conceded straight from the restart when Osimhen converted Ademola Lookman’s cross and spent much of the match under pressure.
Goalkeeper Owono was in inspired form but breathed a sigh of relief when African Footballer of the Year Osimhen misfired after being sent through by Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi with 14 minutes remaining.
Zaidu Sanusi had lifted an early Super Eagles chance high over the crossbar when debutant Alhassan Yusuf’s cross found the full-back in space inside the penalty area.
And Osimhen, the leading marksman in qualifying for the tournament, also spurned a presentable opportunity with the game goalless, heading Ola Aina’s inviting delivery wide.
Three-time continental champions Nigeria are seeking to lift the trophy for the first time since 2013 but could not find a winner against opponents who had beaten holders Algeria on their way to the quarter-finals at the 2021 finals.
Owono tipped a low drive from Moses Simon onto his left-hand upright just before half-time and also kept out efforts from Sanusi, Osimhen and Aina as the second half wore on.
Equatorial Guinea return to the Alassane Ouattara Stadium when they face Guinea-Bissau on Thursday (14:00 GMT).
Nigeria take on Ivory Coast at the same venue in the subsequent game (17:00 GMT), pitting two teams considered strong contenders for the title against each other.
Pessimism among Super Eagles fans
Analysis from Umar Mikail, BBC Hausa in Abidjan
The frustration grows for Nigeria, now without a win in four matches, which will further exacerbate the pressure on coach Jose Peseiro.
Although the injury-hit Super Eagles dominated the game, their lack of clinical finishing shone through.
Victor Osimhen continues to be the main carrier of Nigeria’s Afcon 2023 title chances – despite missing the clearest chance to win the game – and the Napoli striker has now been involved in 13 goals (scoring 11 and providing two assists) since the start of qualifying.
Even before the game, some fans told me about their pessimism here in Ivory Coast.
“I am actually glad that Nigeria were shocked into action because there was a dead silence when Equatorial Guinea scored, and then Nigeria reacted very quickly,” Nigeria fan Nnanna told me.
She hoped to see “a better Osimhen, a better Super Eagles” in the next game against hosts Ivory Coast on Thursday.
Line-ups
Nigeria
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 23Nwabali
- 2AinaSubstituted forOsayi-Samuelat 83′minutes
- 5Troost-Ekong
- 6Ajayi
- 3SanusiBooked at 65minsSubstituted forBasseyat 83′minutes
- 8Onyeka
- 15SimonSubstituted forChukwuezeat 69′minutes
- 4YusufSubstituted forAriboat 69′minutes
- 17IwobiSubstituted forOnuachuat 90+3′minutes
- 18Lookman
- 9Osimhen
Substitutes
- 1Uzoho
- 7Musa
- 10Aribo
- 11Chukwueze
- 12Osayi-Samuel
- 13Onyemaechi
- 14Iheanacho
- 19Onuachu
- 20Awaziem
- 21Bassey
- 22Omeruo
- 25Onyedika
Equatorial Guinea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Owono
- 15Akapo
- 21Orozco
- 16Coco
- 11Ndong
- 4BikoroBooked at 26mins
- 22GanetSubstituted forBalboaat 75′minutesBooked at 85mins
- 6SalvadorSubstituted forAsuéat 90+3′minutes
- 7MachínSubstituted forEnemeat 86′minutes
- 8BuylaSubstituted forNabilat 75′minutes
- 10Nsue
Substitutes
- 2Senra
- 3Anieboh
- 5Elo
- 12Ondo
- 13Embela
- 14Balboa
- 18Ela
- 19Asué
- 20Eneme
- 23Sapunga
- 26Nabil
- 27Siafá
- Referee:
- Abongile Tom
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Nigeria 1, Equatorial Guinea 1.
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Second Half ends, Nigeria 1, Equatorial Guinea 1.
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Corner, Nigeria. Conceded by Carlos Akapo.
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Attempt missed. Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Victor Osimhen.
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Attempt missed. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is high and wide to the left.
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Attempt saved. Paul Onuachu (Nigeria) header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Bright Osayi-Samuel.
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Attempt blocked. Bright Osayi-Samuel (Nigeria) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Samuel Chukwueze.
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Offside, Equatorial Guinea. Emilio Nsue is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Basilio Ndong (Equatorial Guinea) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Equatorial Guinea. Conceded by Semi Ajayi.
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Substitution, Nigeria. Paul Onuachu replaces Alex Iwobi.
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Substitution, Equatorial Guinea. Luís Asué replaces Iban Salvador.
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Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria).
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Attempt blocked. Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Frank Onyeka.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Iban Salvador (Equatorial Guinea).
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Offside, Nigeria. Victor Osimhen is caught offside.
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Substitution, Equatorial Guinea. Santiago Eneme replaces José Machín.
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Álex Balboa (Equatorial Guinea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
