Osimhen scores, but Nigeria held by Equatorial Guinea
Victor Osimhen has scored a first-half equaliser, but wasteful Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations opener with Equatorial Guinea in a steamy Abidjan, unable to turn their pressure into three points.
Iban Salvador netted a surprise opener for Equatorial Guinea against the run of play with a well-worked goal, but the lead lasted only two minutes before Napoli forward Osimhen, one of the tournament’s big stars, headed Nigeria level in Sunday’s group A match.
The west African side dominated the chances after that but found Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono in fine form as he made several outstanding saves to go with some poor finishing.
Nigeria next meet hosts Ivory Coast in a potentially crucial pool clash on Thursday, while Equatorial Guinea faces Guinea-Bissau, who lost 2-0 to the Ivorians in Saturday’s tournament-opening game.
The match was a slow burner but burst into life with two goals in as many minutes towards the end of the first half.
Nigeria’s Zaidu missed an open goal at the back post when a cross from the right eluded everyone and fell kindly to him, but he skewed his shot high and wide with the goal gaping.
Equatorial Guinea took the lead on 36 minutes with a fine finish from Salvador.
Some hesitant defending saw Nigeria fail to clear the ball, and when Salvador was teed up by Jose Machin 18 yards from goal, he side-footed a shot into the bottom corner with a clinical finish.
But the lead lasted only two minutes as Nigeria hit back almost immediately.
Winger Ademola Lookman hung up a cross from the left to the back post, and Osimhen had the simplest of headed finishes to score his 21st international goal.
Zaidu had another superb chance for Nigeria early in the second half but fired straight at the goalkeeper before Osimhen was denied by the head of the Alaves gloveman.
It will be viewed as two points dropped for the Super Eagles, who have faced recent stinging criticism after 1-1 draws with tiny Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifiers in November.