Nigeria secured a place in the AFCON last 16 with a 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, thanks to an own goal by Opa Sangante.

Nigeria’s defender Semi Ajayi, wearing the number 6 jersey, showcased his skills during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group A football match against Guinea-Bissau at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 22, 2024. The Nigerian team secured their spot in the knockout stages of the tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau, who unfortunately exit the competition at the group stage.

The only goal of the match came from an own-goal by Guinea-Bissau’s defender Opa Sangante. In an attempt to prevent the ball from reaching an unmarked Victor Osimhen, Sangante lunged in and inadvertently directed the ball into his own net. Despite the goal being somewhat fortuitous, it proved to be the deciding factor in a game that was much more evenly contested than their respective rankings would have suggested.

Throughout the match, the Super Eagles had the upper hand, with Osimhen posing a constant threat to the Guinea-Bissau defense. Nigeria even had two goals disallowed, both due to handballs committed by Osimhen himself. However, credit must be given to Guinea-Bissau, who put in a strong performance and caused Nigeria plenty of problems. They had a goal of their own by Franculino Dju disallowed for a tight offside call.

With this victory, Nigeria secures their place in the Round of 16. However, they progress as runners-up behind Equatorial Guinea, which means they will face the second-placed team from Group C in the next round. The potential opponents for Nigeria include Cameroon, Senegal, or Guinea, making for an exciting and challenging encounter in the upcoming matches.