The Super Eagles will now be hard pressed to beat The Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau Monday evening to win Group A and thus avoid big guns like defending champions Senegal in the Round of 16.
Thursday’s historic 1-0 win over hosts Cote d’Ivoire has virtually guaranteed them passage beyond the first round of the tournament.
They are second in the group with four points from two matches, same as leaders Equatorial Guinea, who enjoy a better goals difference after a 4-2 win over whipping boys Guinea Bissau.
Cote d’Ivoire are third on three points and will also hope to beat Equatorial Guinea Monday to seal their qualification to the next round of the competition.
It is very likely this group will deliver three teams to the knockout stage of this AFCON, which allows for four third best losers.
For Nigeria, winning the group will earn them a Round of 16 clash against third best losers from Group C (possibly Guinea), D (possibly Algeria) or E (possibly Tunisia).
It will also mean they will stay put in Abidjan, which has been home since they kicked off their campaign.
Finishing as Group A runners-up will get them a match-up against Group C runners-up, who are currently Cameroon, while as third best losers from Group A, they could face winners Group B, currently Cape Verde, or as third best losers from Group A they tackle winners Group C, who are presently Senegal.
Monday’s hurdle Guinea Bissau have lost their first two matches and will do battle with Nigeria again after both teams tussled in the qualifiers.
Guinea Bissau shocked the Eagles 1-0 in Abuja, before the star-studded Nigerians avenged this defeat courtesy of a Moses Simon penalty goal in Bissau.
With the confidence-boosting win over the home nation, the Super Eagles are buoyed to record a big win over Guinea Bissau to win the group notwithstanding the outcome of the other game between Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea.
