Super Eagles Can Cement R16 Qualification With Sudan Win On Saturday

The Super Eagles enter the game with high spirits, especially after defeating Egypt in the group’s top match with to a first-half goal from Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho.

After that amazing showing against the Pharaohs in the opening match, Coach Augustine Eguavoen’s team has established itself as the favourites to advance atop Group D.

The Sudanese Jediane Falcons, for their part, face a difficult job on Saturday, but are aiming to improve their prospects of qualifying for the knockout stage.

The Sudanese goalkeeper Abu Ashren shone brightly in the last minutes of the game against Guinea-Bissau, saving a penalty kick to pick a point. Coach Burhan Tiya is hoping that his players would be at their best against Nigeria’s formidable lineup in order to keep their dreams of qualifying alive.

According to the sports data aggregator Opta, Nigeria and Sudan are meeting at AFCON for the third time, but it is their first meeting in 46 years. Sudan won the first match 4-0 in the group stage of the 1963 tournament, while Nigeria won the second match 1-0 in 1976.

While Nigeria has won 10 of its previous 12 Africa Cup of Nations games, keeping six clean sheets in the process, Sudan had only won one of its last 14 Africa Cup of Nations games dating back to the 1972 edition. Their record of six draws and seven losses includes a 0-0 stalemate in their opener against Guinea-Bissau.

The Super Eagles have won their first match at AFCON for the second tournament in a row, after failing to win their first match in four of their previous five visits, with one draw and three losses. For the first time in AFCON, the Super Eagles hope to win their first two matches of the tournament.

Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored in his debut Africa Cup of Nations game, has the chance to become the first Nigerian player, since Emmanuel Emenike in January 2013, to score in his first two AFCON outings.