Nigeria beat Egypt by 1-0 on Tuesday Night during the Africa Cup of Nations demonstrating how they are bona fide candidates looking forward to winning the tournament.
The Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was starved of any opportunity trying to influence the team by Nigeria’s midfield combination of Joe Aribo who dominated Egypt midfield and Wilfred Ndidi. Nantes winger Moses Simon looked dangerous when the two teams sparred in the opening of half hour but none of the teams had a major impact until when the Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho beautifully had control over the ball on the edge of the area and fired it across the body into the Egyptian net.
Kenneth Omeruo of Nigeria shields the ball away from Egypt’s Mo Salah Photo courtesy AFCON.
When Nigeria’s defense seemingly thought the Liverpool forward had been caught offside in the second half Egypt had one good chance but Maestro could not lift the ball over Maduka Okoye. In a battle of captains, he was frustrated throughout by Watford’s Wiliam Troost-Ekong. The goal spurred on Nigeria into action compared to Egypt.
Either side of the break had several chances with Nigeria’s substitute Chidera Ejuke would have cemented his country’s win in the final minute but his length of the pitch break was straightly hit at El Shenawy. Egypt looks forward to having Guinea-Bissau on Saturday with the need to win and keep their campaign on the track.
Nigeria will have to Sudan who is more dangerous as they knocked out South Africa during qualifying. Before the tournament, it looked to be an AFCON too early for Nigeria’s current generation to win but the past match against Egypt was convincing and controlled manner of their win over the Egypt but perhaps they are right on time.
The AFCON opening for the Egypt game very much feels like a tribute act to Argentina performances circa 2012-2015, with all the talks Mohamed Salah being the best player on earth, Carlos Quieroz system does not really seem to suit the Liverpool’s forward talents.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah celebrates after
scoring against Manchester United photo courtesy. Getty Images
Salah was at his best and in good space of receiving the ball from which he would leave defenders with the twisted blood. It was necessary that the Liverpool’s star needed a strike partner or rather someone to play up front. The decision by Nigeria making in the final third is the only thing that seem to keep it a contest with Kelechi Iheanacho being gifted as being both the best goalkeeper and crosser. That has been a consistent through the line for the opening group games of this AFCON with no warm up games prior to the competition.
This month’s football matches may not really be like the football you typically watch across Europe or even South America as it has its own internal rhythms and playing styles, unique in time and signature and even tactics. Anytime an Africa Cup of Nations arrives you are likely to see sceptics and doubters trying to under play its significance to the wider footballing landscape.
In the event that there is an outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, CAF rules dictate that a team with11 fit players will be expected to fill the fixture regardless of the position.
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