Three time African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria started
their campaign for a fourth title with a nervy 1-0 win over the
Swallows of Burundi. A second half goal by substitute Odion Ighalo was
all Gernot Rohr’s men needed for the first three points.
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr announced his starting XI to face the
Sparrows of Burundi in Nigeria’s AFCON 2019 opener, dropping Odion
Ighalo, Francis Uzoho and Jamilu Collins for Paul Onuachi, Daniel
Akpeyi and Ola Aina respectively in a 4-3-3 formation.
The Super Eagles opened their quest for a fourth AFCON title when they
headed into the game with the debutants in the opening match of Group
B, but where without Samuel Kalu for the encounter against the
Swallows after the Bordeaux man collapsed in training on Friday.
The three-time African champions began the game comfortably, moving
the ball around as they planned to pass out the back. Samuel Chukwueze
and Alex Iwobi’s pace on the wings proved to be too much for the
Burundi defenders to handle and Paul Onuachu got an attempt to score
within the first 5 minutes, while Nigeria were exciting in attack,
they were a bit shaky in defence. Shehu Abdullahi was shaken off the
ball twice very early in the first half and the Sparrows tried to
exploit his wing. Ola Aina and Shehu Abdullahi were very good getting
forward to help the Nigerians in attack but the entire defence looked
shaky in defence when put under pressure.
The game sparked into life when Onuachu got a header on goal forcing
the goalkeeper to make a strong save. Burundi replied immediately with
their own shot just outside the six-yard box forcing Akpeyi to make a
save at point-blank range.
Nigeria attempted to break the resolute defence of Burundi with a
string of lovely passes with the front three of Iwobi, Onuachu, and
Chukwueze linking up well with Mikel Obi in midfield. The Burundi
defence held their own and limited the Nigerians to floating crosses
from deep and wing positions.
Daniel Akpeyi gave Nigerian fans a scare when he fumbled a backpass to
give the Burundians a corner. The Kaizer Chiefs shot-stopper was
constantly put under pressure by Abdul Razak.
Nigeria continued to dominate the state of play with Ndidi and Etebo
pulling the strings from midfield. Iwobi continued to create chances
in the box after. Just before the half-hour mark, he brought down a
cross from Aina and skillfully created space to pick out Chukwueze who
could not hit the target.
Burundi was unable to create chances because of the dominant displays
of the Nigerian midfielders and resorted to taking shots from long
range and came very close as Nshimirimana’s header came off the corner
of the post. Replay shows Akpeyi might have had a finger touch to it.
The Super Eagles would end the first half with a forced substitution
as Chidozie Awaziem went in for an injured Abdullahi Shehu as the
right back got stretched off.
The second 45 minutes started brightly for Nigeria as Iwobi and Musa
combined together with the latter’s square pass is intercepted by
Nahimana in goal. Next was Samuel Chukwueze, as the Villarreal
youngster left a trail of four Burundians as he dribbled his way into
the box but in the absence of any green shirt around, he chipped an
effort over from just inside the box.
Glory would come for Rohr’s side as substitute Odion Ighalo put
Nigeria in front moments after coming on for Paul Onuachu. A sublime
back heeled pass by Ola Aina and an emphatic first time effort by the
China based forward was all the Super Eagles needed to go ahead in the
game.
The Super Eagles now move their attention to their second game against
Guinea on Wednesday as the Burundians take on Madagascar at the
Alexandria Stadium on Thursday.
