Sports
AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Stun Elephants of Ivory Coast with Ekong Penalty
A defensive but dangerous Nigerian side brushed aside much-fancied hosts Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in Abidjan with a William Troost-Ekong penalty in the 55th minute.
It was the Super Eagles first win at their West African rivals home ground.
Left-sided defender Calvin Bassey came in for injured midfielder Yusuf to start in a 5-4-1 that swiftly switched to 3-4-3 on the counter.
It was an effective strategy built on tall muscular keeper Nwabali who started confident and quick breaks led by Osimhen.
The Ivorians were the early aggressors, the home crowd pleased.
The vociferous fans cheered, but it was a cagey affair.
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Possession was 60/40 in favour of the home team at half time, but Nigeria had more corners.
There was no time to settle into a similar pattern in the second half as the tigerish Osimhen won a penalty in a fierce contest 10 minutes in.
Ekong slammed the penalty in, in the 55 minute.
From then to the end, the Eagles coasted.
A roar went up when it said nine minutes extra after 90. But It wasn’t enough as Nigeria won on Ivorian soil for the first time ever.
