AFCON 2021: The battle of Eagles surprisingly ends in Nigeria's super defeat
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 24.01.22. | 00:06
The match was decided early in the second half, thanks to a splendid solo effort by Tunisian Youssef Msakni
Lucky losers trumped the most dominant side of the group stage!
On Sunday night, Tunisia pulled off a stunning 1-0 win against the favourites Nigeria in the second fixture of the AFCON 2021 knockout stage.
The match's only goal was seen moments after the second half kicked off, and the Super Eagles were eager to level, but their efforts ended in vain.
The fixture's importance affected both sides, forcing them to be extremely cautious in the first half. Not a single goal-scoring opportunity on both ends speak for itself.
MON: 19.00: (2.25) GUINEA (3.05) GAMBIA (3.90)
But the lullaby we were dragged in suddenly transformed into an intense drama seconds after the second half started. The man to blame it all for is Youssef Msakni, whose astonishing solo effort fooled the entire Super Eagles defence, let alone the keeper Okoye. Msakni's curved strike was flying away from the custodian; Okoye did his best to put a stop to it but only managed to forward it in the back of the net.
Nigerians, who finished the group stage with all three wins and thus never trailing for a second, were shocked. The things got even worse for them after Alex Iwobi was sent off with 25 minutes left. It seemed a somewhat unintentional tackle of his, but a desire to hit the ball before the opponent. However, the VAR consultancy convinced the referee to change his previous decision and replace the yellow with the red card.
58' Super Eagles' coach Augustine Eguavoen makes wrong call
— BuSaka (@AFCThing) January 23, 2022
59' Iwobi replaces Iheanacho
64' Alex Iwobi booked "Red Card" (the #Arsenal curse follows him)
Bye bye #Nigeria 🇳🇬 We really enjoyed watching you.
Good evening @UTDTrey#AFCON2021 #CAN2021 https://t.co/zjI7JAyN03 pic.twitter.com/GF5DW60Dlc
Believe it or not, that was the moment the Super Eagles finally started to look like a team capable of scoring. Moses Simon found himself unmarked on the left flank a minute after Iwobi's expulsion, but the opposing keeper denied his solid effort.
Samuel Chukwueze also tried to level the game, but his shot went more than a few inches wide of the target.
Nigeria 🇳🇬 0-1 Tunisia 🇹🇳
— Sweet 💋 Ishmael (@Ishmael_ism) January 23, 2022
Youssef Mskani with a down shot as he puts Tunisia in front!! #AFCON2021 #NIGTUN#teamnigeria #TeamTunisia pic.twitter.com/JxxAQvWANz
Finally, Umar Sadiq stepped up to somehow turn the tables and direct a comeback, but as he ran past the keeper, Bilef Ifa's last-gasp tackle prevented him from scoring and tiying the game at one.
After a single win and two defeats in the group stage, the Eagles of Carthage provided us with this upset and is difficult to comprehend how long they can go now, once they've reached the 1/4 finals.
