K. TeyaAFCON 2023: Equatorial Guinea humiliate star-studded Ivory Coast to advance to round of sixteen
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 22.01.24. | 22:10
Nigeria are also through to the knockout stage after edging Guinea Bissau 1-0
Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria have secured passage to the African Cup of Nations round of 16 after registering wins in their final group A matches played on Monday evening in Abidjan Ivory Coast.
Both teams have managed seven points but with a goal-difference of +6 compared to Nigeria's +2, the Equatorial Guinea surprisingly top group A.
Ivory Coast finish third while point-less Guinea Bissau end the campaign rock bottom.
At the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan City Nigeria beat Guinea-Bissau 1-0 to qualify for the round of 16.
Heading into the game, the 2013 winners knew they needed just a win to secure passage to the round of 16.
They put Guinea-Bissau on the back foot in the early stages of the duel before Guinea-Bissau slowly grew into the game and became a threat as well.
Nigeria kept knocking, and they got the opener through an Opa Sangante's own goal.
The defender put the ball into his own net under pressure from Victor Osimhen, who was ready to pounce.
The Napoli man should have made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, but he somehow failed to guide his free header home.
All of Nigeria's action up front revolved around their number 9 and just before the hour mark, he hit the back of the net but his goal was disallowed for offside, and a penalty appeal moments earlier was equally waved on.
At the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara stadium, Ivory Coast suffered a 4-0 humiliation at the hands of surprise package Equatorial Guinea and will now be hoping for a miracle for them to secure one of the slots for the third-best finishers.
But with just three points, they are likely to exit the tournament at the group stage.
The National Thunder cheated on an early scare before they secured passage to the last 16 in spectacular fashion.
AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue gave his team a 42nd-minute lead, and moments later, Ibrahim Sangare thought he had drawn his team level, only to be denied by a timely offside flag.
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Jean-Philippe Krasso thought he had drawn his side level in the 68th minute but once again the offside flag came to the aid of Equatorial Guinea, disallowing the goal for offside.
Two goals in two minutes dashed the home team's hopes in the game. Pablo Ganet curled home a superb freekick in the 73rd minute and two minutes later, Nsue got his second of the game to make it 3-0.
Jannick Buyla completed the rout in the 88th minute.
AFCON 2023- GROUP STAGE
Round 3
Monday Results
Ivory Coast 0 Equatorial Guinea 4
Emilio Nsue 45,57, Pablo Ganet 73, Jannick Buyla 88
Nigeria 1 Guinea Bissau 0
Opa Sangante 36
Monday Fixtures
6.00 Mozambique 3.70 Ghana 1.55
6.75 Cape Verde 3.90 Egypt 1.45
***odds are subject to change***
