Goal scorer Moses Simon (right) celebrates with teammates Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi during the Nigeria/Sudan match, Saturday
Super Eagles beat Sudan 3-1, reach AFCON 2021 Q-Finals with one match to spare
Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Saturday evening at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua, Cameroon, defeated the Nile Crocodiles of Sudan to reach the quarter finals of the ongoing 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Super Eagles attained the feat even with a match to spare as they now join host Cameroon and Morocco who have also booked their places in the competition’s last 16 stage with a match to play, having gathered six points out of the maximum 9 in their group.
Nigeria already top Group D with six points with Egypt trailing behind with three points after victory against Guinea Bissau, at the same stadium, Saturday night.
Goals from Samuel Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi and Moses Simon were all that was needed to hand Eagles a resounding victory. The Sudanese however got a consolation goal after a penalty was given against Nigeria.
Samuel Chukwueze’s goal put Nigeria ahead three minutes into the game through an assist from Moses Simon.
The second goal came at the 45th minute through Taiwo Awoniyi’s header.
A skillful Moses Simon’s goal tripled Nigeria’s lead 35 seconds into the second half.
Nigeria and Sudan are meeting for the third time at the Africa Cup of Nations, but it’s their first encounter at the tournament for 46 years.
Sudan won the first match 4-0 in the 1963 group phase whilst Nigeria won the second 1-0 in 1976.
Nigeria have won 10 of their last 12 Africa Cup of Nations games (L2), keeping six clean sheets.
Following a draw in their opening match against Guinea-Bissau (0-0), Sudan have managed just one win in their last 14 Africa Cup of Nations games (D6 L7), dating back to the 1972 edition.
