2023 AFCON Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea: Match preview, what to expect, team news, key players, kickoff time

The Super Eagles will get their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign underway with a clash against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday afternoon.

 

Nigeria are seeking to win the tournament for the first time since 2013 and the fourth time in their history while Equatorial Guinea will be hoping to better their outing from the last edition when they got knocked out in the quarterfinal.

Match preview 

 

The two nations have never met at AFCON but Nigeria have won all the 3 fixtures played previously between them.

 

The West African country also go into the game as the more experienced side as they will be participating at the tournament in the tournament for the 20th time as compared to their Central African counterparts who will be taking part for the 4th time.

However, Equatorial Guinea head into the game as the more in-form team having not lost in their last 6 competitive games, winning five and drawing 1.

Albeit the form of Juan Michá side, the three-time Africa champions are the favorite for the encounter even despite their injury woes.

 

What to expect

The Super Eagles play with a 4-4-2 formation but it remains to be seen whether the recent injuries in attack will affect their shape for the encounter.

The 2013 AFCON champions should dominate the game and will focus largely on the flanks with their wide forwards and attacking fullbacks.

Equatorial Guinea on the other hand play with a 4-2-3-1 system and also boast of a decent attack with 9 goals scored during the qualification campaign.

The Nzalang Nacional conceded 7 goals during the qualifiers but appears to have found some solidity in recent games, conceding just two goals in the last five games.

The same cannot be said of the Super Eagles who have conceded eight goals in their last five.

Regardless of the form of the two teams, it is the first game of the two nations which could make the tie a close one.

 

Team news

 

Kelechi Iheanacho and Paul Onuachu are rated as doubtful with both strikers not participating in the Super Eagles final training session on Saturday afternoon. 

 

Terem Moffi will not be named in the matchday squad. The oGC Nice forward - a late inclusion in the final squad as a replacement for the injured Victor Boniface - will report for international duty after the game. 

 

Key players

1. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria): The 2023 CAF Men's Player of the Year is not only Nigeria's best player but also one of the best in the tournament.

He scored the most goals in the qualification campaign and hope of the Super Eagles doing well in this game and the tournament lies heavily on him.

2. Alex Iwobi (Nigeria): The Fulham midfielder is expected to pull the strings for the three-time African champions in the middle of the park and his playmaking will be crucial to their creation of goalscoring chances.

 

3. Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea): The 34-year-old is the Central Africans' skipper and most in-form forward having scored 4 goals in his last four competitive games.

 

He would have a role to play in tomorrow's encounter and for the whole of the tournament.

4. Saul Coco: The Las Palmas defender is a strong presence in Equatorial Guinea's defense and will have to be at his best against a Nigerian side that boast some of the best-attacking talents in the competition.

 

Venue and Kickoff time

 

The encounter will be played at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé at 1500hours Nigerian time 

 

    
Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

 

 

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