Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has said that Nigeria’s early goal made it easier for the team to exert their dominance over Sudan in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations win.
The Super Eagles defeated Sudan 3-1 to book their place in the knock-out stages of the tournament. Samuel Chukwueze opened the scoring after just three minutes to set Nigeria on their way to a convincing win.
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Taiwo Awoniyi and Moses Simon added Nigeria’s second and third on either side of the interval before Walieldin Khidir netted a 69-minute consolation for the Falcons of Jediane.
Speaking on Supersport, former Nigerian captain, Okocha said: “It is very important to score early in a game like this. It settles a team. And what a perfect start from Nigeria.
Nigeria, who pipped seven-time champions Egypt 1-0 on Tuesday and knew an early ticket to the Round of 16 was at hand, also rolled the ball easily on the natural grass and for large swathes of the evening bossed the game, with right-back Olaoluwa Aina characteristically joining the attack when it appeared safe and Wilfred Ndidi and Joe Aribo working hard to keep things moving in the middle. Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Samuel Chukwueze were always cooking up a ploy.
In the 70th minute, South African referee Victor Miguel Gomes judged that Aina had tripped a Sudanese defender in the Nigerian penalty area during a corner, and awarded a penalty to the Falcons, which was converted by substitute Mohamed Hussein.
“Chukwueze slotting that one in was crucial. He looked very comfortable and confidently placed that one beyond the goalkeeper. That was for me key in settling the nerves of the [Nigerian] team and helping them to play the way they wanted to play. Controlling the game,” Okocha added.
On Wednesday at the same venue, the Super Eagles will take on the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau, debutants at Africa’s flagship football competition, in their last match of Group D.
