In preparation for the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Super Eagles of Nigeria faced Guinea in a friendly match on Monday, resulting in a 2-0 loss for Nigeria.
The match, held at the Bani Yas Stadium in Abu Dhabi, served as a crucial warm-up for the tournament scheduled to commence on January 13 in Cote d’Ivoire.
The official Super Eagles X page provided live updates during the game, noting that Guinea secured the first goal in the 14th minute. “14’ Nigeria concedes! NGA 0-1 GUI,” the updates stated.
Additionally, Nigeria was awarded a penalty in the 19th minute, but the Guinean goalkeeper denied Simon a goal from the penalty spot. “20’ Penalty Missed! Guinean goalie denies Simon a goal from the penalty spot,” the live update reported.
Despite efforts to equalize, the first half concluded with Guinea leading 1-0. The struggle continued, and by the 64th minute, Nigeria conceded a second goal, sealing the match at 2-0 in favor of Guinea.
Nigeria, a four-time AFCON champion, is aiming for a fourth title after previous victories in 1980, 1994, and 2013. The Super Eagles are set to kick off their Group A matches against Equatorial Guinea on January 14, followed by a match against the host nation Ivory Coast four days later. Their final group A encounter will be against Guinea Bissau on January 22.
Guinea, also facing a challenging group in this year’s AFCON alongside Cameroon, Gambia, and defending champions Senegal, demonstrated their prowess with a solid victory in this preparatory match against Nigeria.
