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Everton midfielder, Alex Iwobi, has assured that Nigeria will bounce again after struggling a shock 1-0 dwelling loss to Guinea-Bissau on Friday, in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
It was one of many greatest upsets within the historical past of the competitors, as Mama Balde, scored for the Wild Canine, who’re 81 locations under the Tremendous Eagles within the FIFA world rankings.
“As gamers and workers, we all know now we have to react to this end result,” stated Iwobi, one in every of three Premier League stars within the beginning line-up.
He maintained: “All we are able to do is enhance and, to the followers, all I can say is that they need to stick by us and assist us as a result of we give 100 per cent not only for ourselves, but in addition for our nation.
“Subsequent time, we’re going to do our greatest and make the nation proud,” the soccer star added, referring to a Group A rematch in Guinea-Bissau on Monday.
Balde, who performs for French top-tier membership Troyes, scored on half-hour, in Abuja, to take the Portuguese-speaking nation to the highest of the desk.
Guinea-Bissau has seven factors, Nigeria six, Sierra Leone two and Sao Tome & Principe one, midway via the six-round mini-league. The highest two finishers progress to the finals.
Nigeria, whose line-up included prolific Napoli scorer, Victor Osimhen, have been agency favourites to win at dwelling.
However after a vibrant begin, with Osimhen coming near scoring on 16 minutes, the house facet battled to create clear-cut scoring alternatives within the capital metropolis.
Because the match reached the half hour mark, Balde raced on to a lofted go and fired a low shot previous goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.
Osimhen, who has been linked with a transfer to Manchester United or Arsenal, grew to become more and more pissed off, as poor service and shut marking restricted his menace.
– South Africa drama –
It was the fifth loss, in seven matches, for Nigeria coach, Jose Peseiro, and one other defeat subsequent week in Bissau might spell the tip for the Portuguese.
“We might have been right here for one more hour and never scored,” stated Peseiro.
“I’m not completely happy. I’m unhappy, like my crew, however they did the utmost. In case you play like we performed, you may beat any crew, not solely Guinea-Bissau.”
In Soweto, Belgium-born South Africa coach, Hugo Broos stormed again to the dressing room earlier than the ultimate whistle, after seeing his facet give up a two-goal lead in a 2-2 Group Okay draw with Liberia.
Lyle Foster put the hosts two objectives forward, by half-time, however Tonia Tisdell, halved the deficit, getting into the ultimate quarter and Mohammed Sangare levelled in added time.
Broos, initially refused to attend the post-match press convention, then spoke briefly and refused to reply questions.
“There are too many disappointments, too many frustrations and an excessive amount of anger in my physique. If I say something, it is not going to be good,” he stated.
“Previously, I’ve all the time been able to reply your questions – even tough ones. However I hope that you just perceive that tonight, it will be very, very tough to try this,” he remarked.
The draw meant 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, who had a bye, grew to become the primary crew to e book a spot on the finals, other than hosts – the Ivory Coast, who qualify mechanically.
Elsewhere, a number of the greatest names in Africa have been among the many objectives, together with Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Sebastien Haller.
Returning to the Senegalese line-up, after lacking the World Cup, on account of a leg damage, Mane scored the second objective in a 5-1 Group L rout of Mozambique in Dakar.
Salah claimed the primary objective and performed a task within the second, as Egypt beat Malawi 2-0 in Cairo to rise from final to first in Group D.
Haller, who resumed enjoying final month, after profitable therapy for testicular most cancers, notched the second objective for the Ivory Coast in a 3-1 Group H victory over the Comoros in Bouake.
Tanzania received an east African showdown in opposition to Uganda, in Group F, 1-0 because of an outstanding second-half strike from Simon Msuva.
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