Victor Osimhen scored as Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw by underdog Equatorial Guinea in a tight Group A match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations played at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe on Sunday.
Ivan Salvador beautifully steered the ball into the bottom corner from the penalty spot to give Equatorial Guinea the lead in the 36th minute before the Napoli man salvaged a point for the African giants.
In the match, Zaidu Sanusi missed an early 11th minute goal scoring chance but he astonishingly misfired wide of an unguarded net while a patient game saw Equatorial Guinea register their first goal attempt moments later through Jose Machin.
The game's dynamic shifted in the 36th minute when, taking a surprising lead through Salvador.
Nigeria, however, responded immediately. Victor Osimhen, the 2023 CAF Footballer of the Year, expertly headed in Ademola Lookman's perfectly placed cross right from the restart, bringing the score to a 1-1 tie.
As the match neared its conclusion, the pressure was on Napoli's Victor Osimhen to snatch a win for Nigeria.
However, in a crucial moment, his finishing touch deserted him, as he frustratingly sent the ball wide of the post in what was Nigeria's final chance to clinch victory.
This draw leaves Nigeria reflecting on missed opportunities and looking to regroup against Ivory Coast, who currently lead Group A after their win over Guinea Bissau.
The Super Eagles face the challenge of bouncing back in their upcoming fixture, as they strive to keep their AFCON knockout stage qualification hopes alive.
