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| Nigeria's forward Umar Sadiq (L) celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Group D Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021 football match between Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria at Stade Roumde Adjia in Garoua on January 19, 2022. |
Striker Sadiq Umar scored his first goal for Nigeria as they eased to a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday to ensure a full haul of nine points in Group D and oust their opponents from the tournament in Cameroon.
Umar, who has been criticised for some glaring misses in previous games, netted when Kelechi Iheanacho’s excellent pass with the outside of his boot across the goal provided a tap-in at the back post for the tall forward .
Nigeria were in cruise control and scored a second as William Troost Ekong netted from close-range after Moses Simon had hit the crossbar following a mazy run into the box.
Nigeria had already won the pool before kick-off, but became the only team to enter the second round with three wins.
Egypt beat neighbours Sudan 1-0 in Yaounde to ensure their progress to the knock-out stages after another laboured performance.
Centre back Mohamed Abdelmoneim, drafted in because of injury, headed home after 38 minutes from a corner to make the breakthrough as Egypt dominated the derby but created few chances.
The display will not do much to temper the criticism that followed the Egyptians’ first two games at the tournament, a 1-0 loss to Nigeria followed by a narrow win over tiny Guinea Bissau.
Egypt ended with six points, three behind Nigeria, and will meet the winners of Group E, which is to be settled on Thursday. Sudan finished bottom of the group with one point.
