Super Eagles unbeaten start to the TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations continued with a comfortable 3-1 win over Sudan.
However, the result ensured that the Super Eagles booked their ticket for the knockout stage of the competition with one game of Group D left.
Samuel Chukwueze and Taiwo Awoniyi scored in the first half to put the Super Eagles ahead, and Moses Simon added a third after the interval.
Nigeria conceded a late consolation goal through Walieldin Khidir’s penalty, but they might still win Group D depending on Egypt’s result against Guinea-Bissau.
Augustine Eguavoen’s charges scored after less than five minutes, with Chukwueze finishing calmly after a long throw into the Sudan penalty area. A Kelechi Iheanacho’s free-kick was finished into the net by Union Berlin forward Awoniyi just before the break for the second goal.
After flying out of the blocks in the first half, Nigeria did it again in the second, with Nantes forward Simon volleying home, which was a just reward for the lively first half that he had.
A VAR check penalised Ola Aina’s clumsy challenge on Mustafa Karshoum and the Sudanese were awarded a penalty. Khidir scored from the spot to cut the Super Eagles’ advantage to two. But, it was of little consequence as the Nigerians held on for another triumph.
Nigeria have now won their first two games in two consecutive Cup of Nations tournaments for the first time in their history, after defeating Mohammed Salah’s Egypt in their opener, while Sudan had won only one of their last 15 Africa Cup of Nations games, dating back to 1972.
