CAN 2022: Nigeria beats Sudan and qualifies without difficulty
Nigerian Samuel Chukwueze, scorer against Sudan, at CAN 2022. AFP - DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
2 mins
The Nigerian team qualified without difficulty for the round of 16 of the African Cup of Nations (CAN 2022) football, this Saturday, January 15 in Garoua.
After beating Egypt 1-0, the Nigerians easily dominated the Sudanese 3-1 in Group D of CAN 2022.
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We could have feared the worst for the Nigerian team, following the dismissal of its coach since 2016, Gernot Rohr, and this one month before the start of the African Cup of Nations (
CAN 2022
).
This January 15 in Garoua, the Super Eagles again proved that they could live without the German-French coach.
Under the leadership of Augustine Eguavoen, successor to Rohr, they indeed won a second victory in group D of CAN 2022, synonymous with qualification for the round of 16 of the competition.
Four days after
beating Egypt's Mohamed Salah
, the Nigerian team thus swept away a Sudanese selection that was quickly overwhelmed.
Goals scored at key moments
From the 3rd minute, on a long touch, the ball sails to winger Moses Simon who slips it to Samuel Chukwueze.
The latter, free of any marking, puts the ball in the back of the net (1-0).
Shortly after the half-hour mark, exploits by Sudanese goalkeeper Ali Achrine in front of defender William Troost-Ekong (36th) and midfielder Joe Ayodele-Aribo (37th), as well as a post by striker Taiwo Awoniyi (37th ), allow the Nile Crocodiles to stay in the game, on the scoreboard.
But, just before the break, a goal-gag plunges them into distress.
In the 45th minute, on a free kick from striker Kelechi Iheanacho, Troost-Ekong deflects the ball with a header which rebounds on the skull of the defender and captain of Sudan, Salaheldin Nemer, then on that of Awoniyi before crossing the line (2-0).
The Nigerians are definitely scoring at key moments in this game.
New illustration just after the break: following an almost involuntary one-two with Awoniyi, Simon slides the leather into the opposing cage (3-0, 46th).
Sudan saves honor
A little too sure of their strength and their fate, the West Africans relax around the hour mark. Defender Ola Aina does not loosen an opponent's shirt on a corner.
Referee Victor Gomes realizes this after using VAR.
Defender Walieldin Khedr took the opportunity to reduce the score (3-1, 70th) and score the first Sudanese goal at the
CAN
since the 2012 edition.
What does it matter for Nigeria, certain to finish first or second in Group D, before their next match, scheduled for January 19 in Garoua against Guinea-Bissau.
The Sudanese will be on mission the same day in Yaoundé against their Egyptian neighbors...
CAN 2022: CALENDAR, RESULTS & RANKINGS OF THE TOURNAMENT
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