AFCON 2024
Match 2 – Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea
Sunday 14 January | 16:00

The three-time champions, Nigeria, start their AFCON journey with a feisty encounter towards Equatorial Guinea. The Tremendous Eagles might want to navigate their group, having one of many assaults at this version of the match.

To Win Match
Nigeria 9/20 | Draw 26/10 | Equatorial Guinea 6/1

The Tremendous Eagles of Nigeria misplaced 2-0 in a pleasant recreation on Monday towards Guinea in preparation for the 2023 African Cup of Nations. With the match scheduled to begin only a few days later, that loss couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Napoli striker and CAF’s 2023 African Participant of the Yr, Victor Osimhen and Bayer Leverkusen talisman Victor Boniface, performed no half in that defeat. The previous can be properly rested forward Nigeria’s AFCON opener however the latter will miss the match by means of harm. 

Nigerians everywhere in the world can be hopeful of a optimistic end result for his or her nationwide workforce. The Tremendous Eagles have introduced a star-studded squad to Ivory Coast. Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho is a commanding determine between the sticks. The formidable squad options gamers like Ahmed Musa, Frank Onyeka, Samuel Chukwueze, Zaidu Sanusi, Simon Moses and a bunch of others signifies that they enter the match as on of the favourites.

The aspect had been wonderful by means of qualification, José Peseiro’s troops scored 22 and conceded simply 4 of their qualification Group. After all it Osimhen who high scored throughout qualifying, with ten strikes to his identify – the one participant to submit double-digit figures in qualifying.

Equatorial Guinea have a largely skilled squad, of disciplined gamers who know find out how to get the job completed. Regardless of this, qualifying from a bunch that has the host nation, Ivory Coast, and heavy weights, Nigeria, will fill even probably the most ardent supporter with a little bit of dread.

It’ll come all the way down to the direct outcome towards the 2 aforementioned nations, if Equatorial Guinea are to stage an upset of observe. After being battered 4-0 by Tunisia again in 2022 throughout their opening AFCON qualifier, the Nationwide Thunder steadied the ship to go undefeated throughout their ensuing 5 fixtures – a run that included 4 wins.

Their comparatively inexperienced attackers, seldomly declare the headlines, nevertheless, add back-to-back wins within the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers towards Namibia and Liberia to that sturdy run of outcomes and we simply might have a recreation on our arms!

By way of head-to-head, Equatorial Guinea have gotten nothing to point out for his or her earlier three aggressive encounters with Nigeria, with the latest outcome being a 3-1 defeat. I really feel it might be extra of the identical on this one.

Verdict: Nigeria Half Time/Full Time 11/10

The ball is spherical, the outcome can go both manner on the day relying on the mentality. With that being mentioned, Nigeria boast a squad to be feared by nearly all nations on the match. On this one, I can’t see Uzoho being examined that usually towards an unflattering assault. Nigeria ought to win this recreation comfortably.