Africa Cup: Nigeria dominates Sudan and flies to the second round

At the top of the list of favorites to win the African Cup of Nations is this Nigeria. Not so much because he gets rid of modest Sudan in 45 minutes, but rather because he is showing the most convincing game of the competition. After having sank Salah’s Egypt (on the pitch from 20 against Guinea-Bissau), the Super Eagles also took the second victory with strength, qualifying for the round of 16 early: Chukwueze, Awoniyi and Simon scored.

Nigeria 3-1 Sudan

–

One hundred and fifty seconds. Only 150, scarce, to see Garoua’s favorites ahead. Moses Simon defends the ball very well in the area, offers it very juicy to Samuel Chukwueze and the Villarreal striker completes the mission with a precise shot. Burhan Tia’s team works hard to react but, every time the Super Eagles turn up, Sudan is in trouble. It happens for example around the 36th minute, with two frantic actions in sequence that first force Ali Abdallah Abu-Eshrein to a great save and then result in a save on the line of a defender, a post from Awoniyi and a second save in extremis. In short, by a miracle the green-and-whites do not spread. Compared to what we saw with other big names, Augustine Eguavoen’s guys risk little. At the end of the fraction the inevitable occurs, with the Sudanese goalkeeper who on a free-kick saves a close header from William Troost-Ekong, but the ball hits Awoniyi’s face and rolls into the net.

The game still lasts for the first 34 seconds of the second half, when Simon takes the stage and scores the third goal of the day, making any remote hope of Sudan impracticable, half a step away from elimination. Waliedlin Khidir’s goal from a penalty was useless in the 70th minute: Nigeria in the round of 16 with the best kick of this Africa Cup of Nations.