By Efosa Taiwo

FT: Ivory Coast 0-1 Nigeria

90′ 9 ADDED MINUTES.

88′ SUBSTITUTION: Osimhen comes off for Paul Onuachu.

85′ Fofana with another attempt at the Nigeria’s defence but his shot goes wide.

82′ Bright Osayi-Samuel with a dazzling run into the Ivory Coast box but intercepted by the Ivorian defence.

79′ SUBSTITUTION: Bright Osayi-Samuel and Kenneth Omeruo introduced for Ademola Lookman and Zaidu Sanusi.

75′ Evan Ndicka with a header that goes high for a goal kick for Nigeria.

73′ Fofana with a curler shot from outside the box but goes inches away from goal. Safety for Nigeria.

72′ SUBSTITUTION: Moses Simon comes in for Chukwueze.

70′ COOLING BREAK

69′ FREE KICK: A 25-yard free-kick taken by Sangare but goes wide off the post as the Elephants continue to press for an equaliser.

65′ FREE KICK: Ivory Coast with a free kick in a precarious position but the in-swinger is headed off by Ousmane Diomande.

61′ Osimhen with a header that inches off the crossbar.

57′ OFFSIDE: Ivory Coast with a dangerous cross inside the box of the Super Eagles both the referee rules for offside.

54′ GOAL!!! William Troost-Ekong converts from the spot for Nigeria.

53′ VAR CHECK: Penalty for Nigeria after Osimhen is kicked in the box.

46′ Second half underway

HT: Ivory Coast 0-0 Nigeria

45′ THREE MINUTES ADDED

44′ Zaidu skies a shot after a loose ball dropped off a Super Eagles corner.

40′ Nigeria deal with a dangerous situation off a Boga’s header in the box.

34′ Lookman fouled after receiving a pass from Osimhen

30′ Fofana with a long-range shot, punched away by Nwabili.

28′ Chukwueze brought down in his own half

24′ COOLING BREAK

21′ Chukwueze fires from inside the box but the shot takes a deflection for a corner

15′ Ivory Coast with a chance to score but comfortably parried by confident Nwabili.

14′ Free Kick for Ivory Coast as Kouame gets clipped by Zaidu.

11′ Chukwueze with a cross into the box with Osimhen and Iwobi waiting to connect but the Ivorian defence clears the ball for a corner.

9′ Christian Kouame with a one-on-one with Nwabili but the goalkeeper gets a touch to it to send it the ball for a corner.

4′ Ivory Coast with a curler into the box of the Super Eagles but dealt with by the Super Eagles defence

2′ Frank Onyeka with a shot that drifts wide off the post after a beautiful play between Ademola Lookman and Zaidu Sanusi.

1′ The game is underway

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Ivory Coast and Nigeria will face off on Thursday in one of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations’ crunch ties in the group stage.

The hosts overcame any pre-AFCON anxieties to make a strong start on home soil in Abidjan on Saturday night, defeating Guinea-Bissau 2-0 thanks to an early goal from Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso’s second-half effort.

The Super Eagles, however, couldn’t follow suit in their own Group A start on Sunday, being held to a 1-1 draw by giant-killers Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria XI vs Ivory Coast

Stanley Nwabili, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman.

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