Super Eagles player ratings : Simon MOTM : Aribo shines; Omeruo experienced; Sadiq struggles; Awoniyi wasteful

Nigeria's caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen will be able to rest some of his key players on Wednesday after his side's emphatic 3-1 victory over Sudan on Saturday evening - a result that sees them advance to the last sixteen with a game to spare.

Samuel Chuwkueze, Taiwo Awoniyi and Moses Simon got their names on the scoresheet before the north Africans netted a consolation goal from the spot with twenty minutes remaining.

Here's how the Super Eagles players rated in the routine win over the Falcons :

The Starters

Goalkeeper

Maduka Okoye : Was beaten from the penalty spot by Waliedin Khadir in the 70th minute. There was a moment he misjudged the flight of the ball and was lucky to have gather it with no opponent in sight. 6/10.

Defenders

Ola Aina : He was decent in his primary duty of defending and he also pushed forward with the ball albeit he conceded a penalty in the second half. 7/10.

Zaidu Sanusi : The Porto left back was not over-troubled at the left-back position. He also made one vital block in the second half. 7/10.

Kenneth Omeruo : The most experienced member of the side in terms of tournament appearances having been part of the 2013 winning side was solid in central defence. He was the one saddled with sitting back when his central defensive partner surged forward. 7.5/10.

William Troost-Ekong : The captain was good on the day although a loss of concentration from him played a Sudanese onside early in the game which luckily only won the Sudanese a corner kick.

Twice Troost-Ekong was in the opposition box to join in the attacking phase of the game - one from which Awoniyi scored. 7/10.

Midfielders and strikers

Wilfred Ndidi : Made some sloppy passes in the early stages of the game otherwise he had a solid game. 6.5/10.

Joe Aribo : Great ball retention by the Glasgow Rangers man. He was  not dominated by the more physical opponents.  Aribo even got stuck in and went for some tackles. Had a chance to double the advantage in the 41st minute but slid the ball wide. 8.5/10.

Kelechi Iheanacho : Had an assist for a 'goal'  that was chalked off after he retrieved the ball that had passed the line  - before crossing into the opposition box. 7/10.

Samuel Chukwueze : Showed hunger from kick off and it soon paid off with an early goal after he profited from a pass laid by Moses Simon. Sinned off in the second half. 7/10.

Moses Simon : Officially the man of the match. He assisted Chukwueze's goal and crowned it with a superb finish in the 46th minute. 8.5/10.

Taiwo Awoniyi : Scored his first senior goal for Nigeria. The former youth international's header in the 45th minute made it 2-0 at the time albeit he was presented with a few other chances that were not converted. 6.5/10.


The Substitutes

Ahmed Musa : The substantive captain of the team came off the bench and linked up well with the attacking teammates. 5/10.

Kelechi Nwakali : The midfielder provided long and short passes albeit he could have impacted the game more had he started or came on earlier. 5/10.

Sadid Umar : The Almeria striker got some opportunities to impress coach Austin Eguavoen but he was very larthegic in his approach. 4/10.

Alex Iwobi : Iwobi grew into the game and was effecting play better after initially somewhat withdrawn. He scored a goal that was ruled out by the VAR. 6/10.

Igho Kingsley