At the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Abidjan, William Troost-Ekong's penalty was the sole goal in a thrilling West African Derby as the Super Eagles secured a momentous win over the Elephants.
This victory marked Ivory Coast as the first host nation to lose a group stage match in 17 matches, breaking a long-standing streak. The Super Eagles also achieved a milestone by claiming consecutive victories over the Ivoirians for the first time. Despite profligate finishing from Nigeria and Osimhen, Troost-Ekong's spotkick, awarded by VAR, propelled Nigeria ahead in the 54th minute.
The Ivorians intensified the pressure, but Nigeria's defense, led by goalkeeper Nwabali, held firm. The win ended Nigeria's five-match winless streak and terminated Ivory Coast's impressive seven-match unbeaten run. Nigeria now sits second in Group A, tied with Equatorial Guinea in points but with an inferior goal difference. The Super Eagles look ahead to their final group stage match against Guinea-Bissau on Monday, seeking to maintain their momentum in the AFCON 2023 tournament.
