- Nigeria beat Ivory Coast 1-0
- William Troost Ekong scored the winner from the penalty spot
- Equatorial Guinea beat Guinea Bissau 4-2 to go top
Nigeria put their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last 16 hopes squarely on the runway with a hard-earned 1-0 win over hosts Ivory Coast in Abidjan.
Captain William Troost Ekong converted a second half penalty to hand the Super Eagles three vital points that took them to four points and just an inch closer to securing a last 16 spot.
Having started their campaign with a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria needed to win against the Ivorians who had beaten Guinea Bissau in their opener.
Ekong scored the penalty in the 55th minute, a thunderous strike straight through the middle after Victor Osimhen was brought down in the box by Ousmane Diomande.
Initially, the referee had waved play on for the challenge, but upon advise from the VAR officials upstairs went to the pitchside monitor, re-assessed the situation and awarded a penalty.
Earlier, both sides had some good chances to score. Osimhen had an early chance in the seventh minute when he was sent through on goal but his effort on the weaker left foot rose over the bar.
A minute later, Nigeria had their keeper Stanley Nwabali to thank after making an important block to deny Christian Kouame.
Nigeria survive a series of attacks
William Troost Ekong scores to score. PHOTO/CAF
In the 15th minute, the Ivorians had another close opportunity when Kouame brought down a cross from the left to Evan Ndicka’s path, but the defender volleyed straight to the keeper.
In the 31st minute, Seko Fofana who scored a banger from distance in the opening match tried his luck again, but this time, Nwabali made a fine save.
In the second half, after going behind, Ivory Coast attemped to get back into the tie, but Nigeria defended well.
Equatorial Guinea meanwhile are top of the group after two matches following their well worked 4-2 win over Guinea Bissau in the early kick off.
Veteran striker Emilio Nsue scored a hattrick as Equatorial Guinea improved their hopes of making it into the last 16.
The Djurtus meanwhile have their hopes of a last 16 severely damaged, as they suffered a second successive defeat and they must now win their last match against Nigeria and hope other results go their way.
Nsue broke the deadlock after 21 minutes, with a side footed finish from inside the box after being picked out by a Pablo Ganet pass.
Nsue on a roll for Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea celebrate their win. PHOTO/CAF
Guinea Bissau however fought back and they levelled eight minutes to half time when Esteban Orozco scored in his own net as he tried to cut off a cross from Mauro Rodrigues.
In the second half though, Equatorial Guinea rose to prominence once again as they started faster off the blocks.
They went back into the lead just a minute into the second period when Josete Miranda volleyed home from the edge of the box after a brilliant long ball from keeper Jesus Owono.
Five minutes later, Nsue made it 3-1 and handed his side a healthy advantage when he stretched a foot to tap home at the backpost from a Basilio Ndong cross from the left.
He completed his hattrick in the 61st minute when he broke the offside trap off a Jose Machin pass to round the keeper and net home. The assistant referee initially raised his flag for offside, but VAR gave the goal.
Ze Turbo pulled one back for Equatorial Guinea in added time, but it was too little too late.
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