Yahoo Sports Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau LIVE: Result and reaction as Super Eagles reach last-16
The final two matches in Group A take place this evening as the Africa Cup of Nations enters the end of its group stages. Three teams, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, all have the chance to finish top of the table and set up an easier fixture for the first knockout round as there is just one point separating the sides.
Nigeria perhaps have the strongest chance. They are currently second in the table, behind Equatorial Guinea, but face Guinea-Bissau who have yet to win a match. The tournament hosts, Ivory Coast, take on the National Thunder in a huge clash that could leave the loser on the brink of an early exit.
The top two finishers automatically qualify for the next round with the four best third placed teams also sneaking through. Ivory Coast currently sit third but their three points should be enough for them to qualify though they would rather not take the risk. Victory over Equatorial Guinea would propel them up the table and ensure a place in the next round regardless of what happens in Nigeria’s match.
Follow all the action below plus get the latest Afcon odds and tips right here:
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
Nigeria take on Guinea-Bissau in a Group A clash at the Africa Cup of Nations
Equatorial Guinea take on Ivory Coast in the other group match with kick off at 5pm for both
Nigeria XI: Nwabali; Omeruo, Ajayi, Bassey; Aina, Onyeka, Aribo, Osayi-Samuel; Lookman, Chukwueze, Osimhen.
Guinea-Bissau starting XI: Mendes, Mendes, Ie, Sangante, Nanu, Bikel, Nito, Quizera, Dalcio, Gomes, Gano.
37’ GOAL! - Sangante smokes in an own goal (NIG 1-0 GNB)
FT Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
19:12 , Mike Jones
Ivory Coast are on the brink of elimination. 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 Emilio 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.
Full-time! Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:58 , Mike Jones
90+5 mins: Nigeria qualify for the round of 16 as Guinea-Bissau bow out of Afcon 2023. The Super Eagles head into the next round by finishing second in the group as an victory for Equatorial Guinea over Ivory Coast sees them top Group A.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:51 , Mike Jones
90 mins: Five minutes of added time to play in this one.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:48 , Mike Jones
87 mins: Nigeria have a goal disallowed of their own. Iwobi picked out the run of Osimhen whose initial shot was saved, only for substitute Sanusi to finish from close range.
Then the flag went up and Nigeria’s lead stays at one.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:46 , Mike Jones
82 mins: Guinea-Bissau have a goal disallowed!
Franculino is slipped into the box but strays offside with his run through the middle. He shoots and finds the back of the net but the celebrations are cut short as the flag goes up and VAR doesn’t come to the rescue.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:40 , Mike Jones
78 mins: Ola Aina curls a left-footed cross into the penalty area and perfectly picks out Victor Osimhen. He leaps into the air and heads another effort wide of the target.
It just hasn’t been his night tonight.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:37 , Mike Jones
75 mins: 15 minutes to play as the players head to the side of the pitch for a cooling break. Equatorial Guinea still lead over Ivory Coast and keeping their lead in tact will be enough for Nigeria to get through.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:34 , Mike Jones
72 mins: Ze Turbo has been brought on for Guinea-Bissau. He gives away a free kick that gets flicked into the box by Moses Simon.
Osimhen bursts forward with a couple of teammates but Jonas Mendes leaps into the air and punches the ball clear off the nose of the striker.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:31 , Mike Jones
69 mins: Chukwueze’s cross from the left side is lifted over the head of Victor Osimhen but Nigeria manage to recycle the ball back to the forward.
His flick on drops into the path of Ola Aina who runs onto the ball and smokes it over the top!
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:29 , Mike Jones
66 mins: Nigeria are repeatedly pushing for the second goal as Guinea-Bissau seem to tire. Alex Iwobi has looked sharp since his introduction and it would be a surprise if there weren’t any further goals in this one.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:27 , Mike Jones
63 mins: Nigeria make a couple of changes now with Frank Onyeka is replaced in midfield by Alex Iwobi. Joe Aribo is also withdrawn with Raphael Onyedika on in his place.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:26 , Mike Jones
60 mins: What’s gone on here?
Victor Osimhen has the ball in the back of the net but the offside flag is raised.
Osayi-Samuel’s low cross being turned into the back of the net by the Napoli striker but the linesman came to Guinea-Bissau’s rescue.
The replays showed there was no offside, but Osimhen handled the ball before finishing into the empty net.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:24 , Mike Jones
57mins: A chance at both ends. Osimhen rises highest to head Aina’s cross just wide of the post.
Guinea-Bissau break and Dalcio Gomes shoots from the edge of the box but his effort is tame and easily saved.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:14 , Mike Jones
51 mins: Victor Osimhen is slipped into the penalty area and drives down the left side easily getting the better of Opa Sangante. He flicks over a cross but there are none of his teammates available and the chance dies down.
Second half! Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:07 , Mike Jones
The second 45 minutes gets underway with Nigeria sitting pretty in Group A. They’re qualifying for the knockout rounds as it stands but can they score a few more goals?
HT Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
18:02 , Mike Jones
In the other Group A match of the evening Equatorial Guinea have taken the lead against the Ivory Coast. Emilio Nsue got on the end of Carlos Akapo’s pass to turn the ball past Yahia Fofana.
As things stand, Equatorial Guinea are winning the group with Nigeria going through in second place. 45 minutes to play.
HT Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:56 , Mike Jones
Half-time! Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:50 , Mike Jones
45+4 mins: Close! Victor Osimhen has the best chance of the half as the cross comes into the box from the left wing. He’s wide open and has a free header though he needs to shuffle a touch to reach the ball in the air.
His jump is strong, as is the header but he pelts his effort wide of the target.
The whistle goes for half-time but Nigeria have the lead.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:47 , Mike Jones
45 mins: Four minutes of added time to play in the first half.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:46 , Mike Jones
44 mins: Guinea-Bissau win a free kick just inside Nigeria’s half and decide to pump a long ball into the box. It’s a decent pass as Zinho Gano bursts into space. He win the aerial and turns his headed effort over the top of the crossbar.
Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:43 , Mike Jones
40 mins: Nigeria will relax now. Ajayi recovers possession as Guinea-Bissau look to break into the final third and the Nigerians build slowly out from the back.
This lead, though slim, is enough to take them to the top of Group A as it stands.
GOAL! Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau (Sangante OG, 37’)⚽️
17:39 , Mike Jones
37 mins: Nigeria take the lead!
A diagonal ball from Kenneth Omeruo comes over to Moses Simon who brings the ball under control and flies down the wing. He carries the ball into the penalty area and squares it across to Victor Osimhen.
Defender Opa Sangante squeezes ahead of the forward but has to deal with the ball. He tries to lift it over his own crossbar but smokes the attempted clearance into the back of the net.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:36 , Mike Jones
33 mins: A long ball over the top is brought down by Famana Quizera who touches it into the penalty area. He forced to run wide as there are no teammates around him and eventually loses possession trying to cut i back inot the middle.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:33 , Mike Jones
30 mins: The game enters a cooling break with nothing to separate the teams. Guinea-Bissau are defending well but Nigeria look likely to score.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:28 , Mike Jones
27 mins: Things just aren’t clicking for Nigeria in the final third though they’re playing slick football. Osayi dribbles into the box before slipping a pass to Chukwueze at the byline.
He’s blocked off and passes back ot Onyeka whose cross is nodded away.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:24 , Mike Jones
24 mins: In the other Group A match of the evening Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast are locked into a nil-nil deadlock through the opening 20 minutes.
As things stands Nigeria would finish second in the group behind the Equatoguineans.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:22 , Mike Jones
21 mins: Nigeria are knocking on the door. Simon and Osimhen seem so composed inside the penalty area but they’re being well marked by the defenders.
Osimhen lays the ball off to the arriving Joe Aribo who takes a first time shot that gets deflected into the arms of Jonas Mendes.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:19 , Mike Jones
18 mins: Nearly! Frank Onyeka lifts a fine pass over the top after spying a run in behind by Bright Osayi-Samuel. He sticks out a foot towards the ball, connects but softly tips it to Jonas Mendes before the offside flag goes up.
Another offside chance for Nigeria sees the ball lifted across to Osimhen. Mendes flies off his line to punch the ball clear and collides with the striker before Guinea-Bissau are awarded the free kick.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:14 , Mike Jones
15 mins: Guinea-Bissau aren’t being shy about their aims in this match too. They’ve never won a match at the Africa Cup of Nations but believe they can do a job against Nigeria tonight.
Famana Quizera wriggles into space before taking a curling long-range effort from outside the box. He hits it well but curls the effort over the top of goal.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:12 , Mike Jones
12 mins: This has been a rather chaotic start with Guinea-Bissau looking to control possession and Nigeria flying forward with pace and determination whenever they get the ball back.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:11 , Mike Jones
9 mins: A nice pass up to Osimhen sees him offload the ball out to the left wing where Moses Simon collects it.
He swings a deep cross over to the far side of the penalty area as Nigeria throw bodies forward but no-one can get on the end of the pass and the ball skips out for a throw in.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:08 , Mike Jones
6 mins: Guinea-Bissau lost 4-2 to Equatorial Guinea last time out and hope to respond positively against Nigeria tonight. Some lovely, intricate footwork in the middle of the pitch allows them to find a touch of space and the ball is across to Nanu on the left wing.
He makes a nice run down the line and looks to cross but the effort is blocked and turned out for a throw in.
Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:04 , Mike Jones
3 mins: Close! Nigeria have really started this match is fine fashion. Victor Osimhen is fed the ball over on the right side of the penalty area.
He takes another snapshot but feeds this one across the penalty area and sees the ball sail wide of the far post.
Kick off! Nigeria 0-0 Guinea-Bissau
17:02 , Mike Jones
Nigeria get the match underway and work the ball up to Victor Osimhen. He brings it down, lets the ball bounce back up nicely then laces a shot towards goal only for the effort to get blocked by the closest defender.
Quick start.
Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau line ups
16:53 , Mike Jones
Nigeria XI: Nwabali; Omeruo, Ajayi, Bassey; Aina, Onyeka, Aribo, Osayi-Samuel; Lookman, Chukwueze, Osimhen.
Guinea-Bissau starting XI: Mendes, Mendes, Ie, Sangante, Nanu, Bikel, Nito, Quizera, Dalcio, Gomes, Gano.
Mohamed Salah to return to Liverpool from AFCON for injury treatment
16:50 , Mike Jones
Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool for treatment on a muscle injury picked up while on international duty, the Egyptian Football Association has announced.
The influential forward was forced off during the first half of Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations group match, causing concern for club and country.
It was later revealed the 31-year-old would miss the Pharaohs’ next two fixtures, if they progressed to the knockout stages of the competition in the Ivory Coast.
Mohamed Salah to return to Liverpool from AFCON for injury treatment
Afcon schedule, fixtures, results and start times
16:45 , Mike Jones
The Africa Cup of Nations is back as Ivory Coast play host for the second time in the competition’s history.
Of the 24 nations taking part in Afcon, Senegal have been installed as the pre-tournament favourites, with a raft of top players including Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Nicolas Jackson.
But the reigning champions will face stiff competition for the trophy from the team they beat in the final shootout three years ago, Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, as well as Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon and hosts Ivory Coast.
The tournament is officially Afcon 2023, despite taking place in 2024, after it was pushed back several months due to concerns over the Senegalese heat in the summer months.
Afcon schedule, fixtures, results and start times
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
16:40 , Mike Jones
Jean-Louis Gasset‘s disappointment at Ivory Coast’s defeat against Nigeria in the host nation’s second game was clear but things could still get worse for the manager.
The Elephants barely managed a shot on traget during their clash against the Super Eagles and they struggled to break downt he defence.
Gasset’s men occupy third in Group A, currently enough to advance as one of the best third-placed sides in the competition, though they will not want to rely on other results to get through.
Losing to the Equartorial Guinea would be a disaster and it would shock an already disappointed home support, who left Ebimpe in low spirits after Nigeria’s win.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
16:35 , Mike Jones
Equatorial Guinea have qualification all but assured after an exciting 4-2 triumph over Guinea-Bissau in their second game.
Emilio Nsue was the story of the encounter, with the 34-year-old becoming the first player at Afcon to find the back of the net three times in one game since Morocco’s Soufiane Alloudi against Namibia in 2008.
With four points already secured from two games, Juan Micha‘s men need a point from Monday’s clash to secure a spot in the first knockout round.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
16:30 , Mike Jones
Equatorial Guinea coach, Juan Micha intends on approaching the Monday’s match like any other game despite Ivory Coast being far off their best form.
Micha says the pressure is on the hosts to get a result following their 1-0 defeat to Nigeria and speaking ahead of the clash he claimed:
“It will be a very difficult match for both teams but more especially for Cote d’Ivoire because they are under pressure to win. We will approach the match in a calm manner. We will not wait.
“We know that they will come at us and open up which will allow us to surprise them at their own stadium. We know that they are under pressure and not us.”
Six people die in Guinea celebrating win over Gambia at Africa Cup of Nations
16:25 , Mike Jones
Six people have died in Guinea celebrating the country’s win over Gambia at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Guinea’s 1-0 win at the tournament, which is being hosted in neighbouring Ivory Coast, was only their third Afcon win in the past decade, and gave them hope of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.
The victory sparked wild scenes back home as people took to the streets in cars and on motorcycles in the Guinean capital, Conakry, on Friday night. According to Agence France Presse, many revellers sat on car bonnets as they raced around the city.
Six people die in Guinea celebrating win over Gambia at Africa Cup of Nations
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
16:20 , Mike Jones
Equatorial Guinea have never beaten Ivory Coast in competitive football. Of the three matches the two nations have played against each other one ended in a draw while Ivory Coast have triumphed twice.
Can the National Thunder buck that trend tonight?
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
16:15 , Mike Jones
No player at Afcon 2023 has outdone Seko Fofana’s four shot-ending carries, but the midfield man must avoid speculative efforts if the game is not going the Elephants’ way.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast team changes
16:11 , Mike Jones
There are no changes to Equatorial Guinea’s line-up as the Group A leaders look to secure top spot and claim a second win of the tournament. They’re unbeaten so far so why change a winning formula.
Ivory Coast make four changes with Willy Boly and Wilfried Singo slotting into the defence as Oumar Diakité and Nicolas Pépé start in the forward line.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast line-ups
16:07 , Mike Jones
Equatorial Guinea XI: Owono; Akapo, Fernandez, Coco, Ndong; Pepin; Miranda, Ganet, Bikoro, Salvador; Nsue
Ivory Coast XI: Y. Fofana; Singo, Konan, Boly, Ndicka; S, Fofana, Sangare, Kessie; Kouame, Pepe, Diakite
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast prediction
16:00 , Mike Jones
While Equatorial Guinea have acquitted themselves well so far, Ivory Coast should have enough firepower and skil in front of their home supporters to secure a win and ease any worries over a possible early exit.
Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Ivory Coast.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory coast team news
15:55 , Mike Jones
Nsue is expected to captain the Equatoguineans as they seek to collect another victory and finish top of Group A. Pablo Ganet was substituted in the triumph over Guinea-Bissau, possibly ruling out the midfield man against the host nation.
It remains to be seen if Sebastien Haller and Simon Adingra are healthy to play in Monday’s final Group A encounter for Ivory Coast, having missed the Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria fixtures because of injury.
How to watch Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
15:50 , Mike Jones
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast kicks off at 5pm at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, commonly known as the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé.
The match is being broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League with coverage starting at 4.45pm.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast
15:45 , Mike Jones
Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations. The early kick offs for tonight’s games sees Group A come to its conclusion with Equatorial Guinea taking on hosts Ivory Coast and Nigeria facing Guinea-Bissau.
All three of Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast and Nigeria could potentially end up finishing top of the group yet there is an outside possibility of Ivory Coast being dumped out of their home tournament early should thye lose.
Our focus will mainly be on the match between Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast but we’ll have the latest updates from Nigeria’s clash as well.
Kick off for both games is at 5pm so stick around.
