Nigeria defeated Sudan 3-1 in their AFCON 2021 encounter at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua, Cameroon, on Saturday. The victory assures the Super Eagles of a place in the Round of 16.
With the victory, the Super Eagles won their opening two matches at an Africa Cup of Nations in consecutive tournaments for the very first time, according to the Confederation of Africa football.
Samuel Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi and man of the match Simon Moses scored for the three-time African Champions before Walieldin Safour reduced the deficit with a second-half penalty.
Nigeria came into the match on the back of their strong 1-0 performance against Egypt while Sudan held Guinea Bissau to a goalless stalemate.
Augustine Eguavoen’s charges got off to a flying start at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua. Samuel Chukwueze clinically dispatched Simon Moses’ inch-perfect pass beyond the keeper to break the deadlock.
Young striker Taiwo Awoniyi doubled the Super Eagles’ advantage on the stroke of halftime with an instinctive header.
Nigeria sealed the victory just after the restart through Moses Simon’s individual goal to book their place in the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 with a game to spare.
Sudan won a penalty on 67 minutes following a video assistant referee review. Ola Aina was adjudged to have fouled Mustafa Mohammed in the area.
Safour slotted the resulting spot kick past Maduka Okoye to make it 3-1.
Both sides continued to create chances but failed to score with the result giving Nigeria pole position in the Group and a place in the knockout stage.
The second match of Group D see record champions Egypt take on Guinea Bissau as they try to revive their hopes of progressing.
At the commencement of the second half, Alex Iwobi replaced Samuel Chukwueze, who scored Nigeria’s first goal.
Nigeria and Sudan met for the third time at the Africa Cup of Nations, but it’s their first encounter at the tournament for 46 years.
Sudan won the first match 4-0 in the 1963 group phase whilst Nigeria won the second 1-0 in 1976.
Nigeria have won 10 of their last 12 Africa Cup of Nations games (L2), keeping six clean sheets.
Following a draw in their opening match against Guinea-Bissau (0-0), Sudan have managed just one win in their last 14 Africa Cup of Nations games (D6 L7), dating back to the 1972 edition.
Nigeria won their opening game (1-0 against Egypt) to an Africa Cup of Nations for the second tournament running, having failed to win their first match in four of their previous five appearances (W1 D1 L3).
