Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea Preview & Prediction | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea on and what time does it start? Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea will take place on Sunday 14th January, 2024 – 14:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea on in the UK? Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea will be televised live on Sky Sports
Where can I stream Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea in the UK? Sky Sports subscribers can stream Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea live on Sky GO
THE LOWDOWN
NIGERIA
Three-time Africa Cup of Nations winners Nigeria are well-placed to improve on their third-place finish in the 2021 edition of the tournament. Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro is the man in charge of bringing glory back to the Super Eagles and he has a super squad of players to work with, exciting the Nigerian supporters.
Victor Osimhen is the stand-out superstar, the Napoli striker having fired his side to a historic Scudetto last season, whilst Samuel Chukwueze also plies his trade in Serie A at another huge club in AC Milan. Both defender Calvin Bassey and attacker Alex Iwobi have been in great form for Premier League club Fulham and will want to bring that into this competition.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Equatorial Guinea are not to be underestimated by any means, but may have wished for a weaker group on paper than what they have ended up with. This is a nation who reached the semi-finals at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, eventually falling to Ghana. They backed that up with a quarter-final finish in Cameroon two years ago, so they do boast significant tournament pedigree.
Juan Micha has been in charge of the national team since March 2021 having previously risen up the ranks as head coach of Equatorial Guinea’s youth teams both at U17 and U20 level. Goalkeeper Jesus Owono is well-known for his penalty saving exploits which helped his nation reach the last eight at the 2021 AFCON and if Equatorial Guinea are to get out of Group A, he’ll need to be at his very best.
THE TEAM NEWS
NIGERIA
The Super Eagles were recent rocked by the news that Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, one of the most in-form strikers in world football right now, would miss the entire tournament due to an injury picked up during Nigeria’s pre-AFCON training camp in Abu Dhabi. He joins the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi and Wilfred Ndidi on the sidelines with Terem Moffi and Alhassan Yusuf having been called-up to replace Boniface and Ndidi respectively.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Uzoho; Aina, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Chukwueze, Onyeka, Iwobi, Lookman; Iheanacho, Osimhen
UNAVAILABLE: Awoniyi (Injured), Boniface (Injured), Ndidi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
With only three players in the squad aged 30 or older, it will be a fairly young side fielded by Equatorial Guinea, albeit captained by 34-year-old midfielder Emilio Nsue. Pablo Ganet’s experience will be key in the midfield, whilst highly-rated keeper Owono has recorded shut-outs in each of Equatorial Guinea’s last two competitive fixtures (not including friendlies).
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Owono; Akapo, Fernandez, Coco, Ndong; Bikoro, Ganet; Salvador, Machin, Miranda; Nsue
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
There’s no escaping the fact that Victor Boniface’s injury serves as a massive blow for Nigeria. His goalscoring exploits leading into this tournament have been spectacular and he, together with Osimhen would have formed the most fearsome strike-partnership across this entire competition. His absence increases the pressure on Osimhen, but the Super Eagles are well-stocked in attack and should be able to compensate for it through the likes of Iheanacho. The reality is that Equatorial Guinea face a huge task to get anything out of this game and Nigeria should triumph by at least two clear goals.
TIP: NIGERIA TO WIN WITH -1 HANDICAP
