Nigeria began their quest for a fourth African cup of Nations title with an impressive one nil win over the Pharaohs Egypt, Owosports.com.ng reports.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s 30th minutes thunder strike was enough for Nigeria to claim all three point over the Pharaohs of Egypt in their group D opening match at the
Roumdé Adjia Stadium Garuoa Cameroon.
The three times African champions were the dominant side throughout the game- clinging off the attackers of the Egyptian side with a composed and compact defense set-up.
Eagles had the best part of the game with it’s set up -even while some football enthusiasts back home had given up on the game – with basis revolving around the past meetings of both sides- especially opening games.
In 1963 ,Egypt defeated the Eagles in the opening game(6-3) of the competiton and also repeat the same feat in 2010 (3-1) as they would go on to win the mundial on the two occasions.
With this result, Super Eagles have now increased their dominance over the Pharaohs with seven wins from their last 11 meetings, leaving just three wins to the North African side while sharing a draw.
Even while the Egyptian side had a fair share of the first half,the Eagles came back in the second half with a renewed vigour and vitality -showing class and composure albiet with some of their goal opportunities being wasted.
Specifically,it was a good start for Coach Eguavoen who was called up to tinker with the team after Gernot Rohr was relieved of his job less than a month to the continental mundial.
The encounter, which was the most talked about game of the competition so far earlier witnessed an odd moment when the match ball was changed for three times in the first half of the game.
The 1 nil victory will see Eagles toping the group D table momentarily while they wait for the result of the other game between Sudan and Guinea Bissau.
Nigeria will face Sudan in their next game on Saturday January 14th at 5pm Nigerian time.