Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria have secured passage to the African Cup of Nations round of 16 after registering wins in their final group A matches played on Monday evening in Abidjan Ivory Coast.Both teams have managed seven points but with a goal-difference of +6 compared to Nigeria’s +2, the Equatorial Guinea surprisingly top group A.Ivory Coast finish third while point-less Guinea Bissau end the campaign rock bottom.##NAJAVA_MECA_7812121##At the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan City Nigeria beat Guinea-Bissau 1-0 to qualify for the round of 16.Heading into the game, the 2013 winners knew they needed just a win to secure passage to the round of 16.They put Guinea-Bissau on the back foot in the early stages of the duel before Guinea-Bissau slowly grew into the game and became a threat as well.Mbemba opens up Regragui scuffle, Morocco boss replies to allegationsNigeria kept knocking, and they got the opener through an Opa Sangante’s own goal.The defender put the ball into his own net under pressure from Victor Osimhen, who was ready to pounce.The Napoli man should have made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, but he somehow failed to guide his free header home.All of Nigeria’s action up front revolved around their number 9 and just before the hour mark, he hit the back of the net but his goal was disallowed for offside, and a penalty appeal moments earlier was equally waved on.Salah back in England and waits Egypt to reach AFCON semi-finalsAt the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara stadium, Ivory Coast suffered a 4-0 humiliation at the hands of surprise package Equatorial Guinea and will now be hoping for a miracle for them to secure one of the slots for the third-best finishers.But with just three points, they are likely to exit the tournament at the group stage.The National Thunder cheated on an early scare before they secured passage to the last 16 in spectacular fashion.AFCON top scorer Emilio Nsue gave his team a 42nd-minute lead, and moments later, Ibrahim Sangare thought he had drawn his team level, only to be denied by a timely offside flag.Livid Eto’o reads riot act to Cameroon players, promises radical change including patriotism testJean-Philippe Krasso thought he had drawn his side level in the 68th minute but once again the offside flag came to the aid of Equatorial Guinea, disallowing the goal for offside.Two goals in two minutes dashed the home team’s hopes in the game. Pablo Ganet curled home a superb freekick in the 73rd minute and two minutes later, Nsue got his second of the game to make it 3-0.Jannick Buyla completed the rout in the 88th minute.AFCON 2023- GROUP STAGERound 3Monday ResultsIvory Coast 0 Equatorial Guinea 4Emilio Nsue 45,57, Pablo Ganet 73, Jannick Buyla 88Nigeria 1 Guinea Bissau 0Opa Sangante 36Monday Fixtures6.00 Mozambique 3.70 Ghana 1.556.75 Cape Verde 3.90 Egypt 1.45***odds are subject to change***
