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Man-of-the-Match, Osimhen delighted after overcoming Cote d’Ivoire challenge –

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Man-of-the-Match, Osimhen Delighted After Overcoming Cote D'Ivoire Challenge -

Nigeria’s forward, Victor Osimhen, emerged as the standout player in the thrilling encounter against hosts Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday night, securing a 1-0 victory for the Super Eagles. 

Named Man of the Match, Osimhen shared his elation during a post-match press conference, emphasizing the significance of overcoming the formidable host nation.

Following a lackluster 1-1 draw in their opening match against Equatorial Guinea in the  Africa Cup of Nations 2023, Nigeria exhibited resilience and determination, clinching a crucial win against Cote d’Ivoire, who were hosting the tournament.

The pivotal moment arrived in the 55th minute when Victor Osimhen, donned in green and white, earned a penalty, expertly converted by William Troost-Ekong to secure the lead.

In the post-match press conference, Napoli’s prolific striker, Victor Osimhen, openly expressed his joy, stating, “It’s a beautiful victory; we knew we would face a strong Ivory Coast team.”

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Acknowledging the magnitude of the challenge posed by Cote d’Ivoire Osimhen added, “This match was a significant test for us, and we are thrilled to have overcome it.”

Assuring a consistent approach in upcoming matches, Osimhen emphasized adopting the same mentality displayed against the Elephants.

“In the first match, we had numerous chances that we didn’t capitalize on. Today wasn’t different; we maintained the same mentality, and we hope this victory brings joy to everyone. We will carry this mindset into the remainder of the competition,” he pledged.

Looking ahead, the Nigerian team shifts their focus to the upcoming third match against Guinea-Bissau scheduled for Monday at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan.

Osimhen emphasized not underestimating their opponent, stating, “We aim for a strong performance against Guinea-Bissau. They will undoubtedly approach the game with determination, and we won’t underestimate any team, considering what they’ve done to qualify.”

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-CAF

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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AFCON

Libya’s AFCON dreams go up in flames!

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The hopes of Libya securing a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ticket seem to have gone up in smoke.  This is the sequel to the 2-1 defeat that Rwanda inflicted on the Benin Republic on Tuesday evening.

With the result, Libya’s position is further cemented at the bottom of the table. Nigeria, even with an outstanding match, still leads with seven points.

They are followed by Benin Republic who have six points. Rwanda followed with five points.

The star men were  Innocent Nshuti and Djihad Bizimana  who scored in the space of two minutes as Rwanda came from behind to defeat Benin 2-1 at Amahoro Stadium on Tuesday, October 15.

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AFCON

Rwanda breaks 12-year jinx in victory over Benin Republic

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FILE PHOTO: Rwanda players celebrate in the dressing room after beating Lesotho 1-0 on Tuesday in Durban, South Africa, to go top of Group C in the ongoing World Cup 2026 qualifiers-courtesy.

Rwanda’s defeat of Benin Republic is not just their first win in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series, the victory terminates a 12-year winless streak against the Cheetah of Benin.

It is also a renewal of their hopes of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. But they still have two more games to play.

The German made two changes from the side that started against Benin last week as Samuel Gueulette and Emmanuel Imanishimwe came in for Kevin Muhire and Claude Niyomugabo respectively.

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AFCON

Libya vs Nigeria: CAF lifts the burden off Nigeria

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The press release on Tuesday by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) may have lifted a burden off Nigeria as the match with Libya is considered postponed rather than the Super Eagles refusing to play.

The continental body remarked that the matter would be referred to the competent CAF bodies.

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