Highlights of Ivory Coast and Nigeria from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria secured a 1-0 victory over Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast in their Group A encounter at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. The decisive moment came in the 55th minute when Captain William Troost-Ekong converted a penalty following a VAR review, revealing that Ousmane Diomande had impeded Victor Osimhen. This result propels Nigeria to the top of the standings with four points, along with Equatorial Guinea, while Ivory Coast has three points.
The match between these West African powerhouses featured a physical contest with limited clear-cut chances. Despite Ivory Coast’s efforts, Nigeria’s solid defensive performance, employing a five-man backline, thwarted the home team’s attacking threats. Osimhen had an early opportunity for Nigeria, but the decisive moment came from the penalty spot.
Nigeria’s coach, Jose Peseiro, praised his team’s execution of the strategy, stating, “We put together a good strategy, and my team did it well. I think we deserved the win.” Ivory Coast’s Christian Kouame had a notable chance in the first half, but his effort was blocked by Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Despite a prolonged stoppage time, Ivory Coast couldn’t mount a comeback, and Nigeria secured their first victory on Ivorian soil in ten attempts.
