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Nigeria held Equatorial Guinea to a 1-1 draw in their Group A tie at the Alassanne Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan on Sunday afternoon.
The Super Eagles started brightly with Alex Iwobi having a shot saved by Jesus Owono in the first minute.
Victor Osimhen also shot wide five minutes later.
Equatorial Guinea grew into the game and caused the Super Eagles defence problem.
Ivan Salvador gave the Nzalang Nacional the lead nine minutes before the break capitalising on sloppy defending by Nigeria.
The Super Eagles responded immediately with Osimhen nodding home Ademola Lookman’s cross.
Equatorial Guinea came out stronger after the break but were curtailed by the Super Eagles defence.
Nigeria soon took control of the game again but were let down by their poor finishing.
Jose Peseiro’s men now occupy joint- second position in Group A alongside Equatorial Guinea with one point.
The three-time winners will face hosts Cote d’Ivoire in their second game on Thursday.
YOUNEWS is aware that the result left many Nigerians disheartened. Equatorial Guinea, perceived as a smaller team, managed to hold the mighty Super Eagles to a draw, sparking disappointment and bitter sentiments among the Nigerian fans.
Various speculations surround the disappointing performance by the Nigerian team. Critics point to the absence of home-based players, arguing that their passion and commitment surpass that of foreign-based players.
The belief is that these players, who have made it beyond fear of failure, might not be putting in the same wholehearted effort as their home-based counterparts, who strive to make a lasting impact for the country.
Criticism extends to the coaching staff, with some blaming the coach for making wrong selections and being too tolerant.
Fans express concern that the coach’s passive approach fails to keep players on their toes, potentially contributing to lackluster performances on the international stage.
Additionally, there’s a growing observation that players who excel in their club sides seem to struggle when donning the national team jersey, leaving supporters puzzled and calling for a reevaluation of the team dynamics.
