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Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria: Super Eagles ease through to AFCON last-16 after routine win

Moses Simon put the ball in for what proved to be Nigeria's winning goal (AFP via Getty Images)
Moses Simon put the ball in for what proved to be Nigeria's winning goal (AFP via Getty Images)

Nigeria booked their place in the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations as they picked up a 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau.

The Super Eagles went into their final group-stage match knowing a point would secure their progression through to the last-16, though even defeat might still have left them qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams.

It was a relatively sluggish start from Nigeria, but they took a narrow lead into the break. Moses Simon played the ball across the face of goal and, with Victor Osimhen lurking at the back post waiting for a tap-in, Opa Sangante smashed it into his own net.

In an open second-half, Osimhen went close on a number of occasions to getting himself on the scoresheet, having one goal ruled out for handball after he scored from a yard out, and then heading wide when free six-yards out.

Franculino had the ball in the net for Guinea-Bissau, as they pushed for a late equaliser, but he was denied by the offside flag, as was Nigeria's Zaidu Sanusi when he then thought he had scored seconds later.

Nigeria did not find a second goal but it mattered not, as they saw out the match to secure a victory that sees them safely through. The Super Eagles finished second in Group A, behind Equatorial Guinea, and will face Senegal, Guinea or Cameroon in the last-16.

Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, were left to reflect on an admirable display but ultimately a third straight defeat, as their wait for a first ever win at AFCON goes on.