Super Eagles, so super again, defeat hosts Ivory Coast 1-0

William Troost Ekong’s 55-minute goal silenced the trumpeting fans of the Elephants at the Alhassan Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

The Super Eagles, who have been winless in their previous four competitive games, changed the narrative against Ivory Coast, with Nigeria switching from 4-3-3 to 3-4-3.

The new formation from Jose Peseiro made the Eagles compact in defence and gave them an impetus to burst from the flanks, with full-backs Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi tormenting the Ivorians from the wings.

The formation switches to 5-3-2 when the Super Eagles are defending and 3-2-5 when on the offensive, giving the Nigerian side more men forward and more options in the final third when in transition.

Stanley Nwabali, who plays for Chipa United in South Africa, yelled and screamed, commanding the defence line brilliantly.

The Nigerian goalkeeper was calm all through the game, composed, and reliable when called upon. Nigeria gets their first clean sheet for the first time in seven games.

Nigeria is tied on points with Equatorial Guinea on four points, with the host nation, Ivory Coast, third with three points.