2023 AFCON: Five observations from Super Eagles disappointing draw against Equatorial Guinea 

Nigeria began their pursuit of a fourth AFCON title with a less-than-ideal 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea.

Ivan Salvador netted the opening goal in the 36th minute, swiftly followed by Victor Osimhen's equalizer for Nigeria just two minutes later.

As a result, Ivory Coast leads Group A after their triumph over Guinea Bissau on Saturday, while Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea both have one point each.

Allnigeriasoccer.com outlines five observations from the match.

1. Osimhen scores first AFCON goal in first start

Victor Osimhen netted his maiden goal in the AFCON tournament against Equatorial Guinea. 

Equatorial Guinea's Ivan Salvador had initially put his team ahead, but Osimhen swiftly responded with a header, securing an equalizer for Nigeria.

Having missed the previous AFCON tournament, the Napoli striker had only made a single appearance in the 2019 event in Egypt, stepping in for Odion Ighalo during a third-place clash against Tunisia. 

This time around, Osimhen started against Equatorial Guinea, showcasing his scoring prowess by netting a header in the 38th minute after connecting with a well-placed cross from Ademola Lookman.

2. Equatorial Guinea unbeaten streak continues

Heading into the clash, Equatorial Guinea had maintained an undefeated streak in their previous ten games. The Nzalang Nacional's last defeat occurred on September 3, 2022, in a 2-0 loss to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Despite Nigeria presenting a formidable challenge in the AFCON opening clash, Equatorial Guinea resiliently preserved their unbeaten run against all odds.

3. Impressive competitive debut for Alhassan Yusuf

Stepping in for the injured Wilfred Ndidi, Alhassan Yusuf marked his debut for the Super Eagles during the match against Equatorial Guinea in Ivory Coast. 

The Royal Antwerp midfielder commenced the game as part of a midfield trio alongside Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi.

In his maiden outing for Nigeria, Yusuf showcased notable skills with his agile movements and composed handling of the ball. Joe Aribo took over his position after sustaining a muscle injury.

4. Disappointing second half performance from Alex Iwobi

The 2023 AFCON tournament kicked off for Nigeria with a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea.

Throughout the entire game, the Super Eagles found it challenging to penetrate their resilient opponents. 

The Eagles' deficiency in creativity during the match was attributed to the subpar performance of Alex Iwobi especially in the second half as the Fulham midfielder struggled with his passing and was not creative in the midfield.

5. Low stadium standard 

The organization and the creativity showcased during the opening ceremony of the AFCON tournament have received praise.

Nevertheless, the quality of the pitches used in the tournament's games thus far has been disappointing for the organizers. 

The pitch conditions during the game against Equatorial Guinea posed challenges for both teams to express themselves, a similar observation made in the initial match between hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau.

Adeyemi Adewale

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