Nigeria continued their exceptional form at the Africa Cup of Nations as they eased to a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau at the Roumde Adjia Stadium on Wednesday to ensure maximum points from Group D.
The Super Eagles were in cruise control throughout the matchday 3 encounter and dispatched the Djurtus before they will face one of the best third-placed teams in the last 16.
Their performances have already placed them up there among the likes of Cameroon and Senegal as one of the tournament favorites and this article will deliver five talking points from Nigeria’s group stage campaign.
Attacking Freedom
Nigeria have been slick and confident right from the kickoff of their campaign against Egypt and that bravery became the hallmark of their group stage performances as they quickly shook off the lack of bite that characterized Gernot Rohr’s final games in charge.
In Cameroon, the front four have been given attacking liberty despite not shirking their defensive responsibilities. This has allowed the players to express themselves better and work without pressure.
Thus, five of the first six goals scored by Nigeria at AFCON 2021 have come from different attacking goalscorers. Against Guinea-Bissau, Sadiq Umar also scored his first international goal on his full debut for the Super Eagles to continue the encouraging trend.
This was all thanks to Iheanacho’s exquisite outside-of-the-foot pass to set up the Almeria forward for a tap-in, the Leicester City man and Moses Simon have now registered at least a goal and assist each at the continental showpiece.
Moses Simon Is a Brand New Player
The stark improvement of the Nantes attacker in the Super Eagles shirt has been thanks in no small part to Augustine Eguavoen. The interim manager has shifted Simon to the left wing and encouraged him to be more direct and use his innate skill and pace to beat defenders, invariably creating space for the attack.
The dancing shoes from Moses Simon here… What a tournament he’s having.#TeamNigeria have also now scored six goals in an AFCON group stages for the first time since back in 2004. pic.twitter.com/DhV4XRfoBF
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) January 19, 2022
The 26-year-old was an electric outlet against Egypt, supplying the cross that resulted in the winner, and kept up his wonderful showing with a goal and assist in a man-of-the-match showing against Sudan.
Having been afforded a rest against Guinea-Bissau, the winger showed exactly why he is already the team’s attacking lynchpin in a 30-minute cameo as he pushed the team forward whenever he got the ball and pleased the crowd with his mazy dribbling.
Hence it was no surprise when the second goal came from a typical run and shot which would have been the goal of the tournament until it hit the crossbar and was taped in gratefully by William Troost-Ekong.
The form of Moses Simon is a major reason for optimism for Nigeria and his efforts will no doubt contribute to more match-winning contributions at AFCON 2021.
Defensive Resilience
Nigeria have so far been water-tight at the back throughout the tournament, with the only goal conceded being a cheap penalty against Sudan which puts them behind only Senegal (0) for goals conceded after three games.
That imperious form at the back has coincided with captain William Troost-Ekong’s impressive upturn of form compared with his club performances.
What a performance! ?
The TotalEnergies Man of the Match award goes to the spectacular, William Troost-Ekong! ?#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #GNBNGA | #TeamNigeria | @NGSuperEagles | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/7OTufg65r2
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 ? (@CAF_Online) January 19, 2022
The 28-year-old has been a rock in defense despite two different central defensive partners so far and his ever-presence has been rewarding for Eguavoen’s men.
Troost-Ekong reacted quickest to score the second goal against Guinea-Bissau and the Man-of-the-Match award capped off a perfect night’s work for the defender.
William Troost-Ekong's game by numbers vs. #TeamGuineaBissau:
100% shooting accuracy
85% pass accuracy
51 touches
46 passes
9 long balls attempted
6 long balls completed
2 clearances
1 interceptions
1 goal#TeamNigeria pic.twitter.com/oaMGoNhuVa— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 19, 2022
Should he keep up his unbeatable form in Cameroon, then AFCON 2021 could prove a memorable tournament once the knockout rounds resume.
Squad Excellence
Having wrapped up qualification to the last 16 ahead of Matchday 3, Nigeria could make eight changes to the unchanged side that navigated victories over Egypt and Sudan.
As a result, Eguavoen was able to give playing minutes to every single outfield player going into the knockouts and the importance of sharing that winning feeling and togetherness cannot be understated in a major tournament.
The coaching staff would have been pleased with the outcome as a number of key players earned valuable rest while others were able to impress and secure the win and clean sheet.
Eguavoen’s 100% Record
By beating Guinea-Bissau, the Super Eagles have now completed their AFCON group with maximum points for the first time since 2006. Incidentally, Augustine Eguavoen was also the man in charge and he would be desperate to improve on his bronze medal finish in Egypt.
Nigeria are the only last 16 side who qualified with nine points from three games so far at AFCON 2021 and understandably go into the knockout stages full of confidence.
With Eguavoen already securing a unique unbeaten group stage record twice, he can also become just the third man (and second Nigerian) to win AFCON as a player and manager.
Before then, his charges will be looking forward to face the third-best team from Group E or F in the Round of 16. Eguavoen’s AFCON 2021 team already look like they will take some beating in Cameroon.