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Victor Osimhen Scores First AFCON Goal But Nigeria Fail To Beat Equatorial Guinea

Victor Osimhen scored his first-ever goal at an Africa Cup of Nations tournament but his Nigeria side failed to beat Equatorial Guinea in their Group A opener.

Robert Summerscales

Victor Osimhen Scores First AFCON Goal But Nigeria Fail To Beat Equatorial Guinea
Victor Osimhen Scores First AFCON Goal But Nigeria Fail To Beat Equatorial Guinea /

Victor Osimhen scored his first-ever goal at an Africa Cup of Nations tournament on Sunday but his Nigeria side failed to beat Equatorial Guinea in their Group A opener.

Osimhen found the net with a header from close range in the 38th minute when he got on the end of a cross from former Everton and Fulham winger Ademola Lookman.

That goal tied the game after Iban Salvador had earlier fired Equatorial Guinea into a shock lead 100 seconds earlier.

Nigeria had plenty of chances to win the match  - including a one-on-one opportunity missed by Osimhen - but the final score was 1-1.

Osimhen has now scored 21 goals in 28 international appearances for the Super Eagles.

The Napoli striker won the 2023 African Men's Footballer of the Year award in December.

Sunday's draw was the second game in Group A after tournament hosts Ivory Coast had beaten Guinea-Bissau 2-0 earlier in the weekend.

Highlights: Nigeria 1-1 Equatorial Guinea

Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen pictured (no.9) moments after scoring the first goal of his AFCON career in a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea in January 2024
Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen pictured (no.9) moments after scoring the first goal of his AFCON career in a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea :: IMAGO/Samuello Sports Images/Ebenezer Amoakoh
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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.