ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Jun 26 – Nigeria became the first qualifiers for the second round of the Africa Cup of Nations when they beat Guinea 1-0 in Alexandria on Wednesday with Kenneth Omeruo scoring the only goal.

Centre-back Omeruo headed a corner into the net on 73 minutes to earn the Super Eagles a second straight Group B victory after beating Burundi by the same score four days ago.

Nigeria have a maximum six points, Madagascar and Guinea one each and Burundi are pointless in the group. The Burundians and Malagasies meet on Thursday.

Although the Super Eagles are not guaranteed to finish first, they are certain of a top-two finish and a place in the next round.

Guinea star Naby Keita started his first match since being injured playing for Liverpool at Barcelona in a Champions League semi-final last month.

He received some rough treatment and was substituted midway through the second half just before Nigeria broke the deadlock.

Samuel Kalu, who collapsed while training last Friday with severe dehydration, replaced Moses Simon deep in stoppage time.

Although the countries have made 30 appearances between them at the Cup of Nations, this was only the second time they had met, the first was a 1-1 draw in Ethiopia 43 years ago.

Both coaches had been unhappy with their first outings against debutants, as Nigeria pipped Burundi 1-0 and Guinea led and trailed in a 2-2 draw against Madagascar.

Nigeria’s German coach Gernot Rohr made five changes, including dropping veteran captain John Obi Mikel with Ahmed Musa wearing the armband.

Belgium-born Guinea coach Paul Put, who took outsiders Burkina Faso to the 2013 final, made three alterations, including the promotion of goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone.

Guinean Francois Kamano had an opportunity to threaten Nigeria midway through the opening half in 30 degrees celsius (86 fahrenheit) heat, but blazed a free-kick over the bar.

Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo, who came off the bench to score the goal that beat Burundi, broke clear just after the half-hour mark and his angled shot flew into the side netting.

Keita was treated roughly by the Nigerians and complained to the Angolan referee after being crudely sandwiched by two opponents.

The 24-year-old Liverpool midfielder needed medical attention several times late in the first half.

Nigeria were more assertive as the second half progressed and an interception prevented a Musa pass after a great run finding the unmarked Ighalo.

Peter Etebo then stung the fingers of Kone from a free-kick that the goalkeeper parried and a defender cleared.

Coach Put decided that Keita was not sufficiently fit to last a full match in the heat and replaced him with Lass Bangoura on 71 minutes.

Two minutes later Nigeria took a deserved lead as Omeruo, one of three survivors from the 2013 Cup of Nations-winning team in the squad, nodded a corner past Kone.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Nigeria first qualifiers for AFCON round of 16

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Durant opts out of Warriors deal for NBA free agencyrn

rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 4 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn David Silva set for final season at Man Cityrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 12 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn EPL stars Mahrez, Mane renew rivalry in faraway Cairorn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 18 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Raptors exec Ujiri says will stay in Torontorn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 18 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Starc reveals fan banter inspired his England demolitionrn

rn rn Cricketrn rn rn rn 18 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn 10-man Ghana held by Benin in Ismailiarn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 1 day ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn I didnu2019t recognize my team, says Mignern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Joash ruled out of Algeria AFCON openerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Soi, Tanui book 10k slots for Africa Gamesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kenya ready for the World Cup, says Odingarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Ex-England star urges Tottenham to keep Wanyamarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Stars handed Algeria loss in AFCON openerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn KPL trio eager to help Burundi at AFCONrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Manyatta, Al-Ahly clash in Chapa Dimba finalrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Wanyama, from Nairobi streets to UCL finalistrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Salah sends Egypt into Cup of Nations last 16

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Shocking Musona miss costs Zimbabwe in Uganda draw

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Durant opts out of Warriors deal for NBA free agency

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

David Silva set for final season at Man City

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

EPL stars Mahrez, Mane renew rivalry in faraway Cairo

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL EGYPT WIN 2019 AFCON AT HOME?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Raptors exec Ujiri says will stay in Toronto

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Starc reveals fan banter inspired his England demolition

rn rn rn Cricketrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

10-man Ghana held by Benin in Ismailia

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Cameroon begin AFCON defence with victory

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Nigeria call off Nations Cup bonus strike

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Salah sends Egypt into Cup of Nations last 16rn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Shocking Musona miss costs Zimbabwe in Uganda drawrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Durant opts out of Warriors deal for NBA free agencyrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nigeria first qualifiers for AFCON round of 16rn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Stage set for WRC Safari Candidate Eventrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tI didnu2019t recognize my team, says Mignern

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 24th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tJoash ruled out of Algeria AFCON openerrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Sunday, 23rd Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tSoi, Tanui book 10k slots for Africa Gamesrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKenya ready for the World Cup, says Odingarn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 20th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEx-England star urges Tottenham to keep Wanyamarn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tStars handed Algeria loss in AFCON openerrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Monday, 24th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKPL trio eager to help Burundi at AFCONrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tManyatta, Al-Ahly clash in Chapa Dimba finalrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWanyama, from Nairobi streets to UCL finalistrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Salah sends Egypt into Cup of Nations last 16rn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Shocking Musona miss costs Zimbabwe in Uganda drawrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Durant opts out of Warriors deal for NBA free agencyrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nigeria first qualifiers for AFCON round of 16rn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Stage set for WRC Safari Candidate Eventrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */