Nigeria began their Africa Cup of Nations 2023 campaign in inauspicious fashion as the Super Eagles of Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their first game of the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast on Sunday.

They drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea in their Group A opener.

Equatorial Guinea drew first blood in the 37th minute when Iban Salvador scored a well-placed shot, leaving the Super Eagles’ goalie, Stanley Nwabali, motionless.

An instant response from Nigeria following a kickoff saw Victor Osimhen head an equalising goal for Nigeria before the break.

Despite many chances, Nigeria failed to get the winning goal.
Yet their performance in the sweltering heat of Abidjan’s Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe was not one the handful of Super Eagles fans who had made the trip will have particularly enjoyed. A lack of incisive attacking play and a couple of bad misses from star striker Victor Osimhen means they have now won just one of their past six games in all competitions.

Although Osimhen scored his first AFCON goal on his first appearance, he, in the 75th minute, missed a big chance.

Osimhen did at least get on the scoresheet to cancel out a shock opener from Equatorial Guinea, who are competing at just their fourth AFCON finals and were held to a 1-1 draw by 192nd-ranked Djibouti five days ago in a pre-tournament friendly.

Ivan Salvador gave the unfancied nation the lead after 36 minutes, producing a composed finish from the edge of the box after Osimhen and Zaidu Sanusi had missed presentable openings.

Osimhen spurned the best chance of the second half, racing through onto Alex Iwobi’s throughball only to drag his finish wide. The Napoli star will have to sharpen up if Nigeria are going to mount a serious challenge at these finals, not least given a meeting with the hosts is coming up in just four days’ time.

The Super Eagles are one of the favourites to win the AFCON title in 2024 and were widely expected to follow hosts Ivory Coast by beginning their tournament with a comfortable win against a team 46 places below them in FIFA’s rankings.

Nigeria, in Group A, will further challenge Ivory Coast, and Guinea Bissau later in the tournament.