The Super Eagles of Nigeria have booked their place in the Round of 16 of the 2021 AFCON after a dominant showing and 3-1 win against Sudan in Garoua on Saturday, Completesports.com reports.
Goals from Samuel Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi and Moses Simon put the Eagles in a comfortable lead.
However Sudan got a goal in the second half from the penalty spot.
It is the Super Eagles’ first win against Sudan at AFCON since a 1-0 victory at the 1976 edition in Ethiopia.
Chukwueze broke the deadlock on three minutes when he slotted the ball past the Sudanese keeper off a threaded pass from Moses Simon inside the box.
Also Read – Live Blogging: Nigeria vs Sudan – Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021
The Sudanese had a chance on goal in the 10th minute through Gumaa Abas Omer which failed to trouble Maduka Okoye.
In the 13th minute Okoye was called to action following a long range shot from Mohamed Al Rashed which he dived to save.
Taiwo Awoniyi almost doubled the Eagles’ lead on 25 minutes after he was played through by Kelechi Iheanacho, but his shot was blocked for a corner.
On 36 minutes the Eagles had a couple of chances as William Troost-Ekong saw his goal bound shot from Simon’s setpiece saved by the keeper before Awoniyi saw his effort come off the post.
Within five minutes the Eagles had another big chance but Aribo hit his effort off target after a good cutback from Awoniyi.
Awoniyi made it 2-0 on 45 minutes off a lucky goal as a Troost-Ekong’s header from Iheanacho’s set piece, came off a Sudanese player which veered off the Union Berlin striker’s head with the Keeper failing to keep it out.
Before the start of the second half the Eagles made their first change with Chukwueze going off for Alex Iwobi.
And just one minute into the second half, Simon added the third goal as he controlled the ball on the air before slotting under the Sudanese keeper.
In the 52nd minute, Awoniyi had a big chance to get his second goal following a poor clearance from a Sudanese defender but his goal bound strike was blocked for a corner.
Sudan almost profited from a mistake from Okoye on 59 minutes after he came out to claim a cross and dropped the ball before gathering the loose ball to avoid any danger.
On 65 minutes the Eagles made a double change with Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Nwakali replacing Iheanacho and Aribo respectively.
Moses Simon performs back-flip in goal celebration
A minute later, Zaidu Sanusi made an important block as he headed into corner a goal bound shot.
With 20 minutes left Sudan pulled a goal back from the penalty spot through Walieldin Kedr after Ola Aina fouled a Sudanese player inside the box, as VAR check confirmed.
With 15 minutes left, Awoniyi was close to extending the Eagles’ lead after he was played through by Iwobi but hit his shot off target.
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Sudan went close on 81 minutes following a dangerous low crow from the right which Maduka palmed away.
With less than 10 minutes left Umar Sadiq was introduced for Awoniyi.
In the 90th minute Sadiq had his first chance on goal, but his lame effort went way off target.
The Eagles now join Cameroon and Morocco in the knockout stage of the tournament.
Nigeria will now take on Guinea-Bissau in their final Group D match on Wednesday, January 19.
MATCH STATS
Nigeria 3 – 1 SUDAN
Scorers:
Nigeria – S. Chukwueze 3′ ; T. Awoniyi 45′ ; M. Simon 46th min)
Sudan – Walieldin Safour 70′ pen.
Venue: Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua
Date: Saturday, January 15, 2022
Referee: Victor Gomes (South Africa)
Yellow cards: J. Aribo 58′ ; O. Aina 69′
LINEUPS:
NIGERIA:
1 Maduka Okoye (Gk) – 2 Ola Aina, 22 Kenneth Omeruo, 5 William Troosy-Ekong (Capt.), 12 Zaidu Sanusi, 4 Wilfred Ndidi, 10 Joe Aribo (25 – Kelechi Nwakali 64th min.), 14 Kelechi Iheanacho (7- Ahmed Musa, 64th min), 15 Moses Simon, 11 Samuel Chukwueze (18 – Alex Iwobi, 46th min), 19 Taiwo Awoniyi (24 – Sadiq Umar 81st min.).
Subs Not Used:
16 Dankel Akpeyi, 23 Francis Uzoho, 21 Tyronne Ebuehi, 11 Henry Onyekuru, 8 Frank Onyeka, 26 Olisa Ndah, 6 Semi Ajayi, 13 Chidera Ejuke
COACH: Augustine Eguavoen
SUDAN:
1 Ali Abosheren (GK) – 5 Salaheldin Nemer (Capt.), 6 Mustafa Mohammed, 9 Abdelrazig Omer (18 Sharif Makki 88′ ), 11 Gumaa Omer (19- Dhiya Mahjoub 46th min.), 12 Mustafa Saeed, 14 Mohamed Mahamoud, 15 Yasin Hamed (8 – A. Hussein Mohamed 63rd min.), 17 Mazin Mohamed
21 Walieldin Safour, 25 Musab Eisa (22 – Nooh Al-Gozoli, 46th min.).
Subs Not Used:
2 Mohamed Kesra, 3 Elsadig Hassan, 4 Amjed Ismael Ahmed, 16 Ishag Adam, 20 Suliman Zakaria,
23 M. Mustafa Mohamed, 24 B. Aldakhn Captain, 28 Moaiad Maki.
COACH: Burhan Tia
By Adeboye Amosu, in Garoua
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COMMENTS
SE is simply world class and we have distinguished ourselves so far in this tournament…….Neat passes,smooth transition, intelligent play, overlapping fullbacks,great intensity,……..From all the matches I have watched so far in this tournament Nigeria is still by far the best team so far…….It will take a very miserable slump in form to prevent SE from getting to the final and winning it………This team is determined to prove a point to the African continent and this is their chance…….You can see there is a transformation in every player,even Musa was a joy to watch today and it’s been long I saw Musa so focused and clinical like the way he played today after coming on in the second half…….I don’t know if I am the only one but I smell a cup run by SE in this Afcon.
Aina is a great player. He is very strong and appears to be on the same fitness level as Moses Simon. I really like his performance.
Yes! Naija dey play senior level football; full of class and panache!
@Akp,obviously you haven’t watched the other teams at AFCON properly, or else you will notice the smooth transition, pace and hard tackling Camerooninans and the free flowing CoteD’Ivoire.
We are progressing, that is good. However our quality in terms of play is far from perfect.
Which Cameroon abeg? Don’t be flattered by the score-line of their last match. A good team will beat them hands down. Na just physical strength dem get
Cameroun keh…I wish we would be given the privilege to eliminate them
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Chukwueze appear to be too careful not to make mistake; even his take-ons and runs has dropped usually…. Something definitely is wrong behind the scene.
Reports from SE training camp, before the Egypt match, stated that Coach Eguavoen yelled aggressively at Chukwueze to pass/release the ball; asking him to stop too much dribble.
https://thestreetjournal.org/release-the-ball-super-eagles-interim-coach-eguavoen-yells-at-chukwueze-in-training-ahead-of-egypt-tie/
Folks, you correct a player calmly.
Coach Eguavoen should be very careful not to kill the dazzling Chukwueze’s morale in this tournament o. Try to draw him closer and calmly encourage him.
Chukwueze still has enormous, great and impeccable footballing skills and charisma in him (undisputable).
Chukwueze has been one of SE best players even at last AFCON (His mesmerizing goal vs South Africa is a case study), coach Augustine Eguavoen what is wrong????
Nigerian Fans are Worried!!!
Most of the time he had the ball, he didn’t know what to do with it. Eguaveon’s team is built around team work. Samu hasn’t got that yet. He does many take ons, ending with some poor passes or not good attempt. He needs to grow too.
Egu is desperate to take something out of this tournament. He won’t allow any player mess it up. I noticed Sadiq performed better today. Same as Nwakali. If these are growing into Egu’s philosophy, Samu should grow too. You can see the amount of impact Iwobi made when he came on. He was far more effective than Chukwueze. I noticed the same thing when Ejuke came in for him in the match against Egypt. A lot of players are breatjknb down his neck. I heard how well Onyekuru has been doing in training too. Chukwueze should remember that replacing him won’t difficult in this present set up. Like I said earlier, he really needs to grow
Abeg who saw nwakali`s midfield today
Where that Sudan Keeper? We are not afraid of Nigeria… yen yen yen… how e be now?
You guys should leave @monkey post, the guy to me is just having fun. Himself can’t deny it, he is secretly happy with our performance.
Though I was a bit worry about egu’s ability before now.
But with this two games, one needs to give him(egu) double thwaile.
I just pray he will be the second indeginous coach to win afcon for us.
Coach Eguavoen pls allow Chukwueze express himself on the pitch. Pls and plsss.
Chai even CSN is making the matter worst, by over hyping the game. You call a performance that produced 3-1 scoreline against a lowly placed team “outclass”??? What will you call it if the match ended 5-N0,(spelling their country’s name or even 6-0. At least that is what the world was waiting for even Egypt would be like “oboy the way wey dis guys play us, them go kill Sudan be that o” LMAO!
What will you call losing to CAR? which is like the 49th ranked team in Africa…..Why are you so hateful and not just appreciate a good result….. Last nations cup Madagascar whooped our ass in a group game so sffu.
Frustration. Lol
When last did your benefactor and patron win any match by that scoreline in a competitive match???
Present his AFCON scorecard vis-a-vis EGUAVOEN’s please. Who were his opponents in 2019? Lets compare them to EGUAVOEN’s
Even your PRESIDENT Dr. Drey applauded the boys and hailed the performance. Go read his comments in LIVE BLOGGING
If you are with us youll realize the Penalty has no business in the Game but the referee just want to give Sudan a moment of relief. Eguavoen has won our trust it’s time to rally round excellence.
You are a Judas Iscariot!
Didn’t your idol, Gernot Rhor feel comfortable with a draw with Cape Verde on our home soil?
This simply reflect bitterness. If you call Sudan a lowly rated team, are you aware that this same team beat South Africa by 2 goals to nil? So if we are able to keep them quiet from start to finish, I think you should commend them.
@monkey smelly ynash post,you’re nothing but a nuisance, an ass licker and a fool forever that’s the reason u keep hating on someone doing a good job better than your slave master rhor cuz it’s obvious you’re a slave with a backward slave mentality.
Some people are very disappointed that Sudan couldn’t spring a surprise.
Coach Eguavoen and the Super Eagles are on the march!
A good performance from the team. So fabs should stop putting unnecessary pressure on the players You don’t kill yourself over a team that don’t pose much threat on the field otherwise you will pick up a needless injury which is not good during a tournament. My only worries is that Chukwueze is becoming so predictable with the way he plays. If am opportuned to advise the coach, i will suggest he move him away from the wing and let him always come in as a sub for Ihaenacho. Chukwueze also have ability to play in through ball from outside the box playing as supporting striker. Also playing from that position will give him opportunity to curl in shot from outside the box when he is in good range. Iwobi could play from the right side of the midfield and inter change position with Aribo. Finally, the coach need to talk to Aina, you don’t just give away needless penalty like that. For God sake the guy is not posing any meaningful threat from his position. In conclusion, i will rate the whole team 7/10. Could have been 9/10 but for not keeping a clean sheet.
Good game. Good play, good transition from defense to the second third. The midfield seems to be compact. Having that ability to win balls, hold up play and then release to the wings to launch attacks. The level of understanding and willingness to win is very commendable and kudos to mr egu for instilling this type of psyche in the players. However, I still think that the services of osimhen are really missed. Had it been he were around, all our opponents would be packing goals with baskets. Awoniyi is not yet there as a reliable point man like osimhen even though he’s been doing a no man’s job. Sadiq should understand that African football is different from European football. He needs to be more rugged and aggressive if he really wants to remain relevant in African football. Not always falling like a drunken master. And for iwobi, that guy is really a baller and a national team player. Congratulations to u guys. It can only get better.
Brilliantly surmised’@OAKFIELD.
Difference between OSIGOAL and AWO is the former is a more prolific goal getter. But boy, AWO’s hold up and link up play is second to none. The guy hardly loses the ball.
I believe SE is blessed to have 2 pacy, aggressive top marksmen
Sadiq wasn’t just falling. He was being fouled
You are constituting nuisance in this forum @monkey post. I supported Rohr but when he lost it he has to go. Grow up pls your write up is becoming boring
The team is getting better with each game. The word is ‘teamwork’ and players like chukwueze and ejuke need to learn it fast to fit into the team plan.
I don’t think the coach will allow any player play to the gallery in this team, so those who want to ‘express themselves’ should do it the way moses simon is doing his. Take on your man and create opportunities for your teammates or go for goal and score! Or work the keeper.
Thats the kind of professionalism the team needs right now.
All I know be say bring the cup home. You unjustly fired GENERAL ROHR and hired Eguavon for him to get the job done. So there is no need comparing his record against cape verde to your own sudan record. Cos even the cape verde is ranked 14 in Africa still a more competitive football team to your 33 ranked sudan team. LMAO!!
Truth must be told, we had a choppy transition of the ball as Aribo could not pick up the ball from the defence and move it to attack. Most times we relied on the wings Thats why Moses Simon is quite important to this team.
However if any opponents close down our wings, then we are finished. Especially if Iwobi doesn’t play. This reminds me of the Nigeria vs Denmark game at the World Cup.
Anyway, we are still in Africa and our focus should be on playing a smooth transition of the ball and win our matches. The earlier we adopt and use this pattern the better for us.
And fOr those comparing Rhor’s performance with Eguavoen. Rhor’s last performance at AFCON was winning a bronze. Until Eguavoen surpasses that, then he is still in progress.
And the CAR thst defeated your LIEUTENANT ROHR, please is its ranking position? Lol. GENERAL my foot. And what will you call MOU and Co?”late KESHI, AMODU, WESTERHOFF, BONFRERE JO nko?
Like @NDUBEST advised you; grow up or go SIDDON DEY LOOK. Ok? Truth is you are constituting a NUISANCE like a loosed bull in a China shop.
Egu for his second AFCON has won his first 2 matches. The last I checked, your SERGEANT lost against MADAGASCAR in a group stage of AFCON.
Enjoy wave of exchane or endure bitterness
Eguafon don dey win me to his side , with his playing philosophy (Mass attack , Mass defence typical of Westerhof era copied also by Siasia) .
The only positive thing from the Amaju Fraud-Pinnick is the sacking of the erstwhile pessimist clueless Rohr ; Rohr did all he could in his tailing end of his directionless 6 years running with all manner of appalling decisions , bringing in a benched warmer in the local league John Noble of this world , talk of the recalled flopped retiring Igahalo that is enjoying his cool money in the Sunday-Sunday football in the Holy Land of Saudi plus always written off his players ahead of any game or tournament with all manner of silly statements; just as he had declared ahead of our match against Egypt ( SE don’t have players plying in ManU, Liv , Man City etc ( who could have imagined that , the much maligned Mosses in the Rohr era , benched warmer Aina, secluded Taiwo Awoniyi , Senior Man Kel are the one displaying man of the match display with their sublime football , not forgetting relaxed goal tender Okoye , with almost written off assist Capt Ekong displaying classic football, and others .
Cicero Eguafon, keep the flag flying, we the patriotic and progressive Nigerians stand by you. The only fockup from you is leaving out Dessers and the wonder kids Akin Amoo ; input of these two guys could have made your job more easier because I am afraid , you don’t have bench.
For now , I give you 10/10 having made strong statement with your performances so far that NFF are only wasting our tax payers money on the average coaches like Rohr , rather than focusing on our local coaches with an inspiring remuneration and conditions of services .
If I here anyone advocating for Nigeria to continue to become dumping ground for all these so called white coaches in the mould of the clueless Rohr ; we will stone them from this platform and in the glass house of corruption in NFF’s office .
Up 9ja , up progressives, up SE
Correct write up. Nuff said!
Leading up to the match against Sudan, Rohr would have gone like ‘Sudan are the favourites against my team. Don’t forget we don’t have players playing in Real Madrid,Barcelona or Bayern Munich.The Sudanese don’t have many players in Europe but they know themselves alot because they majorly play in the Sudanese league.Moreover,my team is still young and they are still learning the ropes.Forget that I have been at the helms for almost 6 years,I’m still building my young team into a compact unit.Then we don’t have the complement of Ighalo.Ighalo’s absence in this my Super Eagles team will make it very difficult to defeat the Sudanese or any team for that matter at this AFCON’. Lol