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Troost-Ekong penalty gives Eagles win over hosts

 Captain William Troost-Ekong slotted home the match winner from the spot in the 55th minute as the Super Eagles put their AFCON 2023 campaign back on track with a 1-0 win over hosts Ivory Coast at Allassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, on Thursday.
Coach Jose Peseiro made two changes to the side that played a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea on Monday, with Calvin Bassey taking the place of the injured Alhassan Yusuf, while Samuel Chuwueze got the nod ahead of Moses Simon.
The first chance of the game fell to Frank Onyeka in the second minute but his shot went wide following a nice interchange of passes between Alex Iwobi and Zaidu Sanusi to set up the Brentford man.
Victor Osimhen wasted the best chance of the first half after he failed to convert a fine through ball from Chukwueze that saw him through on goal with only Yahia Fofana — in goal for the Ivorians — to beat. Instead, the Napoli striker sent his shot wide, while it was easier to hit target.
A confusion between left-back Zaidu Sanusi and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali gifted the hosts a chance in the eighth minute but Nwabali made a fine save to deny Ivory Coast a chance at goal with the goalkeeper saving the resulting corner.
While he was not tested in the first game against Equatorial Guinea, Nwabali made his third save in the encounter against the Elephants in the 15th minute, denying Evan Dicka a chance to score the opener after the midfielder smashed a shot on target.
In the 35th minute in Abidjan, the Chippa United safe hands was again forced to make another save from Seko Fofana as he kept the Eagles in the game.
With a minute to the end of the first 45 minutes, the Eagles were presented with another opportunity but Porto defender Sanusi wasted the chance, blasting his shot into the stands.
The hosts got the second half underway at the fully packed Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara and just a few seconds into the restart Bassey was brought down by Jeremie Boga, with the Fulham defender needing medical attention.
The Eagles started the second half the better side and were almost rewarded but Ademola Lookman was brought down with the Atalanta forward almost through on goal.
Ten minutes into the second half, Peseiro’s men took the lead through captain William Troost-Ekong, who stepped up to score from the penalty spot after Osimhen was fouled in the opposition box. It was Troost-Ekong’s third goal in as many AFCON tournaments, after he scored the winner against South Africa in the quarter-finals in his first appearance in Egypt in 2019. He also scored another goal in the 2021 edition in Cameroon, hitting target in the Eagles’ 2-0 group stage triumph over Guinea-Bissau.
Another chance went begging for the Eagles in the 60th minute as Osimhen rose highest to nod a long throw from Ola Aina, but the Napoli striker flashed his header wide.
With 60 minutes on the clock, Ivory Coast made triple changes with Wilfried Singo, Jonathan Bamba and Nicolas Pele coming on for Sergi Aurier, Christian Kouamé and Jeremie Boga respectively, as the hosts continued their search for the equaliser.
Peseiro also made a change of his, sending on Moses Simon for Chukwueze.
With the clock ticking, Jean-Louis Gasset’s men began to pile the pressure on the Eagles, who were content to sit back and soak in the pressure from the hosts.
With 10 minutes to the end of the game, Peseiro threw Bright Osayi-Samuel and Kenneth Omeruo into the game in place of Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen respectively. Ultimately, the changes turned out to be the steel the Eagles needed to withstand the pressure of the hosts and their vociferous home fans in the closing stages.
Nigeria held on for nine minutes of added time to earn a deserved 1-0 win to move to second in the group with four points and just a goal difference behind Equatorial Guinea, who beat Guinea-Bissau 4-2 earlier on Thursday at the same venue.
It was one of the three-time African champions’ best performances under the watch of Portuguese Peseiro — who’s come under scathing criticisms following his side’s lethargic display before Thursday.
However, the hard-fought win against a side like Ivory Coast soothed the nerves of the country’s of the country’s football-crazy fans, ahead of the Eagles’ final Group A game against guinea-Bissau on Monday.
The 2023 AFCON is broadcast live in Nigeria by Pay-TV giants StarTimes.

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