Sports
Super-sub Ighalo to the rescue as Super Eagles pip Burundi in AFCON opener
Substitute Odion Ighalo was the winner of the game for the Super Eagles on Saturday as his goal sealed a 1-0 win over Burundi.
The match, played inside the Alexandria Stadium, was the opening match of their campaign at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Egypt.
After a goalless first half, Ighalo, who finished as the highest goalscorer during the qualifiers, netted the winner in the 77th minute to frustrate the Swallows.
A hard-fighting Burundi were able to hold the Eagles goalless for most part of the game, and also had chances to score but their best chance was stopped by goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi.
Gernot Rohr’s men dominated the opening exchanges with young winger Samuel Chukwueze causing problems for the Burundi defenders, but efforts at goal proved abortive.
Read Also: Super Falcons crash out of World Cup after losing to Germany in last-16
Shehu Abdullahi was injured late in the first half and Chidozie Awaziem took his place.
In the second half, captain John Obi Mikel was brought off for Ahmed Musa and Paul Onuachu was also out for Ighalo, who would later seal the victory 7 minutes after joining the play.
Defender Ola Aina made a backheel pass that found the striker inside the 18-yard box, and he easily slotted in past the Burundi keeper, Jonathan Nahimana.
Three-time African champions Nigeria have started with a win in their campaign for a fourth AFCON title. It is the first time the team have won their first game in the AFCON since 2006.
They face Guinea in their next game on Wednesday, before playing another newcomers Madagascar in their final Group B encounter.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...