Nigeria reignited their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a thrilling 1-0 victory over hosts Ivory Coast at the Allasane Outtara Stadium on Thursday.
William Troost-Ekong emerged as the hero, confidently converting a penalty in the 55th minute after Victor Osimhen was fouled, a decision that underwent VAR scrutiny before being confirmed.
Following a draw with Equatorial Guinea in the initial group game, expectations were high for an improved performance from the Super Eagles.
Coach Jose Peseiro made two strategic changes, introducing Samuel Chukwueze and Calvin Bassey to the starting line-up, as Nigeria aimed for their first win of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024).
Nwabali praise
In the first half, Stanley Nwabali’s goalkeeping heroics earned him admiration from fans, sparking discussions that the Super Eagles may have found their reliable goalkeeper after persistent challenges in that position.
Look at Nwabali constantly communicating with his back line. He’s supposed to be a newbie in the team oh. But you can see the desire to be on the same page with his back line. I won’t talk about Uzoho. #SoarSuperEagles #AFCON2023
— DevoyceofLagos (@devoyceoflagos) January 18, 2024
The frustration was palpable as Victor Osimhen missed a golden opportunity in the opening half, leaving fans discontent with his finishing in the tournament so far.
The victory triggered a wave of reactions on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), where fans expressed their elation with the team’s performance.
Super Eagles have beat the hosts Ivory Coast
– Victor Osimhen penalty win
– Ekong banger goal
– Calvin Bassey masterclass
– Stanley Nwabali cleansheet
– Ola Aina workaholic
We are the best in Africa
NIGERIA IS WINNING THIS AFCON
pic.twitter.com/kLGVZmsznG
— DANTINO JNR (@Shattachelsea) January 18, 2024
Post-match, enthusiasm soared as fans praised the team’s resilience to secure the win and expressed hope for continued improvement as the tournament advances.
Turning point for Super Eagles?
Some felt this win will be the turning point for the Super Eagles while others revealed they were surprised with the win, but they will take it.
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) January 18, 2024
Looking ahead, the Super Eagles are set to face Guinea-Bissau in their final group match on the 24th, determining their eventual group stage standing.
The win against Ivory Coast has injected renewed optimism among fans, who eagerly anticipate Nigeria’s progression in the competition.
The whole of Africa tuned in to watch Nigeria drop in AFCON but we stood on business against the host
— daviid. (@bigbodychukz) January 18, 2024
“Nigeria has never won Ivory Coast in their Home soil”
