Six days to their opening game of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Super Eagles lost 0-2 to Guinea in a friendly game on Monday.
The 34th edition of the competition kicks off on Saturday in Abidjan with hosts Côte d’Ivoire taking up Guinea-Bissau, while Nigeria face Equatorial Guinea the next day, also in Abidjan. Both matches are in Group A.
Monday’s friendly was played at the Bani Yas Stadium in Abu Dhabi. United Arab Emirates.
The official X page of the Super Eagles, which gave timely updates on the match, noted that Guinea scored the first goal in the 14th minute.
Nigeria missed the opportunity to level up as Sadiq Umar was hacked down in the 19th minute, but the Guinean goalie denied Moses Simon joy from the spot.
The Super Eagles struggled to equalise as the first half ended.
Nigeria conceded again in the 64th minute.
Nigerian starting XI: Stanley Nwabili (keeper), Zaidu Sanusi, William Troost-Ekong (captain), Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Abdullahi, Raphael Onyedika, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Sadiq Umar
Nigeria will be vying for a fourth AFCON title, having won in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
Guinea are in the same group at this year’s AFCON with Cameroon, Gambia, and defending champions Senegal.
