Nigeria\u2019s Super Eagles on Wednesday in Garoua advanced in style to the knockout phase of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.<\/p>\n
They beat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 at the Stade Roumde Adjia to become the only side at this 33rd edition of the competition to win all their three group games.<\/p>\n
The winners of groups A, B and C who had advanced earlier failed to win all their three games.<\/p>\n
It is now not possible for any other team in groups E and F to accomplish this, with none of them having won two matches.<\/p>\n
The Group D winners made eight changes to the side which beat Sudan on Saturday, with six on the bench and the other two unavailable.<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Zaidu Sanusi, as well as forwards Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Taiwo Awoniyi dropped to the bench.<\/p>\n
On their part, Olaoluwa Aina and Joseph Aribo did not dress for the game.<\/p>\n
This did show in the Super Eagles game, with the team almost strolling through the first half.<\/p>\n
It took them time to get going, with their opponents not providing something better too.<\/p>\n
But it was not too long after the restart that they got going, with Umar Sadiq opening the scoring following a cross from Kelechi Iheanacho in the 56th minute.<\/p>\n
The Super Eagles took full charge thereafter, with Simon coming in for Chidera Ejuke and Peter Olayinka for Sadiq.<\/p>\n
William Ekong sealed the win after he tapped in a rebound following a good job fine by Simon from the left flank.<\/p>\n
However it took referee Peter Kamaku from Kenya almost two minutes before allowing the game, following a lengthy VAR check,<\/p>\n
Olisa Ndah, Frank Onyeka and Henry Onyekuru later came on for Tyrone Ebuehi, Kelechi Nwakali and Iheanacho respectively to steady their game and hold on to their lead.<\/p>\n
the win took Nigeria to nine points from three matches, sealing their top spot in the group and condemning Guinea Bissau to bottom place.<\/p>\n
The Super Eagles now await the best of the third-placed teams in groups B, E and F as their opponents in the next stage on Sunday in Garoua.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, seven-time champions Egypt beat Sudan 1-0 in the group\u2019s other game to finish second behind Nigeria and qualify for the last 16 round.<\/p>\n
Mohamed Abdelmonem scored the game\u2019s only goal, after heading home Abdallah El Said\u2019s corner-kick in the 35th minute.<\/p>\n
Sudan offered little opposition though, with Egypt going close to a second goal through a Mohamed Salah effort which was saved by goalkeeper Mohamed Mustafa in the second half.<\/p>\n
Egypt will now face the winners of Group E on Jan. 26.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nigeria\u2019s Super Eagles on Wednesday in Garoua advanced in style to the knockout phase of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon. They beat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 at the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":90979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n