LIVE – Updated at 11:45
Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea LIVE!
The Super Eagles enter the fray as the Africa Cup of Nations continues in Abidjan today. Last night saw Ivory Coast shake off any pre-tournament nerves to run out deserved 2-0 winners over Guinea-Bissau thanks to goals in each half from Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso, with Nigeria hoping to follow suit this afternoon ahead of their huge Group A showdown with the hosts on Thursday evening.
Nigeria’s bid for a fourth AFCON title overall and a first since South Africa in 2013 is not helped by a wave of injuries that will see them without the likes of Victor Boniface, Wilfred Ndidi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Umar Sadiq for the entire tournament, but Portuguese head coach Jose Peseiro still boasts one of the strongest squads on the continent led by the likes of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze, among others.
While they will be expected to get off to a winning start today, their opponents could pose a tough test having finished fourth at the 2015 competition and also reached the quarter-finals on two other occasions in the last 11 years. Follow Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea at AFCON live below!
Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea latest news
- Kick-off time: 2pm GMT, Alassane Ouattara Stadium
- How to watch: Sky Sports
- Nigeria team news: Super Eagles hit by injury blows
- Equatorial Guinea team news: Nsue captains side
- Standard Sport prediction
Nigeria team news
11:45 , George Flood
Once again Nigeria’s best-laid AFCON preparations have been disrupted by multiple injury setbacks, as was the case in Cameroon in 2021.
The Super Eagles are without in-form Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface due to a groin injury that required surgery and is expected to keep him out for several months.
Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is also missing the tournament through injury, along with Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi and now Real Sociedad striker Umar Sadiq, who was ruled out with a knee problem this week.
Terem Moffi, Alhassan Yusuf and Paul Onuachu have all been drafted in as late replacements, with the latter only arriving in recent days.
Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho has also been considered a doubt after injury and his participation remains unclear.
(Getty Images)
Where to watch Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea
11:38 , George Flood
TV channel: In the UK, today’s game will be televised live on Sky Sports Mix and the Sky Sports Red Button, with coverage beginning at 1:55pm GMT.
Welcome to Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea live coverage
11:37 , George Flood
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s latest live coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations, with Nigeria beginning their campaign in Abidjan this afternoon.
The injury-hit Super Eagles will hope to get off to a winning start against Equatorial Guinea, who are playing at AFCON for only the fourth time in their history this year but have one fourth-place finish and two other quarter-final appearances already under their belts.
Though always among the traditional powerhouses of African football, three-time winners Nigeria have gone a decade without success in this competition now and were ousted in the last 16 in tame fashion in Cameroon two years ago.
With a key clash against hosts Ivory Coast – who opened with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau last night – to come on Thursday evening, Jose Peseiro’s side can ill afford any slip-ups in Group A.
Kick-off at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium is at 2pm GMT, so stay tuned for live updates plus all the latest team news from both camps.
(AFP via Getty Images)
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