Nigeria made it through to the round of 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in Abidjan on Monday.
Opa Sangante’s own goal in the 36th minute was the only difference at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium as Jose Peseiro’s side advance as Group A runners-up behind leaders Equatorial Guinea.
Peseiro benched vice-captain William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Zaidu Sanusi and Ademola Lookman who started last game against Ivory Coast and opted for Kenneth Omeruo with Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi in a three-man defence while Joe Aribo provided support Frank Onyeka in the middle and Samuel Chukwueze was drafted to complement Moses Simon and Victor Osimhen up front.
Nigeria dominated the opening 45 minutes of the encounter but they were poor in front of goal and failed to build on their lead.
The Super Eagles continued with the same momentum after restart and just before the hour-mark, the three-time African champions thought they had doubled the lead when Osimhen put the ball into the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside by the referee.
Sanusi and Iwobi were introduced as the first set of substitution, however, Guinea-Bissau had their chances towards the end of the encounter with forcing Stanley Nwabali to save free-kick.
The dramatic end to the encounter continued with Guinea-Bissau seeing a goal disallowed for offside while Zaidu Sanusi also found the back of the net for the Super Eagles but it was ruled out after Osimhen touched the ball with his hand.
With Guinea-Bissau out of the tournament after failing to pick a point in Ivory Coast, Nigeria who ended their Group A campaign as runners-up will face the runners-up in Group C in the round of 16 on Saturday.
