Ivory Coast AFCON dreams suffered a blow on Thursday night as they fell 1-0 to arch-rivals Nigeria in a tightly contested Group A clash at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
Elephants’ Attack Stifled
Despite seeking their second consecutive win after the opening victory against Guinea-Bissau, the Elephants found themselves entangled in a web of Nigerian defensive tactics, ultimately succumbing to William Troost-Ekong’s second-half penalty, Footballrover reports.
Ivorians coach Jean-Louis Gasset lamented his side’s struggle to overcome Nigeria’s ultra-defensive approach, attributing the defeat to “small details favouring Nigeria.”
Nigeria’s Defensive Masterclass
He acknowledged the Super Eagles’ 3-4-3 formation effectively stifled their attacking flow, leaving the Elephants with two first-half chances but largely outplayed after the break.
“It was a very physical match,” Gasset conceded. “Nigeria chose to play very low with a five-man defence to exploit counterattacks with their star striker. It was a tightly contested match, and we didn’t give the impression of being able to compete physically.”
The Elephants’ energy waned early in the second half, and despite nine minutes of stoppage time, they never truly threatened the Super Eagles’ resolute backline.
This marked Nigeria’s first win on Ivorian soil in a decade, leaving them in second place in the Group A table.
Shifting Focus
With their AFCON aspirations dimmed, Cote d’Ivoire now turns their focus to the final group game against Equatorial Guinea next Monday.
Meanwhile, Nigeria, buoyed by their tactical triumph, will face Guinea-Bissau in a bid to secure their place in the knockout stage.
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