AFCON 2023: Guinea Bissau 0-1 Nigeria – Super Eagles victory and place in last 16

Nigeria's defender #6 Semi Ajayi (C) runs with the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group A football match between Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 22, 2024. Photograph: Getty Images

Nigeria are safely through to the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, who exit the competition at the group stage.

An own-goal by defender Opa Sangante, who lunged in to stop the ball reaching an unmarked Victor Osimhen after 36 minutes, was enough to separate the two teams in a game that was far more evenly-matched that their respective rankings would have suggested.

The Super Eagles had the best of the chances, with Osimhen the constant threat, and they had two goals disallowed, both due to handballs by the Napoli centre-forward.

But Guinea-Bissau, who knew they were out even before kick-off, put in a strong showing and caused Nigeria plenty of problems, having a goal of their own by Franculino Dju chalked off for a tight offside.

The result means that Nigeria go straight through to the Round of 16, although progress as runners-up behind Equatorial Guinea, leaving the Super Eagles to face the second-placed team in Group C, which will be one of Cameroon, Senegal or Guinea.