Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo’s goal in the 73rd minutes was all Nigeria need to defeat the Syli National of Guinea 1-0 in their second Group B game of the 2019Â Africa Cup of Nations at the Alexandria Stadium and thus booked their place in the Round of 16 stages after two wins.
Omeruo grabbed Nigeria’s vital winner in the second half after a hard fought first 45 minutes and the win was the sixth for the Eagles against Guinea in 18 meetings.
Guinea’s Ibrahima Cisse had the first chance of the game in the second minute when he rifled in a shot that Daniel Akpeyi in goal for Nigeria was unable to save the first time of asking with his defence clearing the ball.
Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi dallied on the ball in Guinea’s six yard box just four minutes into the game when Moses Simon delivered an exquisite pass unto his path.
Goal scoring chances came the way of the Eagles even more in the first half but Odion Ighalo was guilty of wasting two opportunities – one which he could have scored himself and an angled shot in the 32nd minute that went agonizingly wide when Ahmed Musa was well placed to prod home.
Ahmed Musa embarked on a mazy run in the 58th minute but his end product was disappointing as he sought to find Ighalo. The ball was cleared by the eagle eyed Guinean defence. He was booked afterwards for tracking back and fouling François Kamano.
Two minutes later Alex Iwobi’s rasping shot was parried away for corner by Ibrahim Kone in the opposition goal. The Guinean keeper also kept out Oghenekaro Etebo’s free-kick a minute later.
Omeruo broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute as he scored with a glancing header from a Moses Simon’s corner kick.
Samuel Chukwueze was introduced in place of Alex Iwobi with fourteen minutes left on the clock.
Etebo was yellow carded as the game petered away for a foul on Ibrahima Traore.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
