The North Africans eliminated the Super Eagles in Sunday’s Round of 16 encounter in Garoua
BackpagepixNigeria 0-1 Tunisia
Despite winning all their group stage games, the three-time African champions were beaten by a Tunisia side that were loaded with positive coronavirus tests.
Augustine Eguavoen’s side were heavy favourites to progress to the quarter-finals, but Youssef Msakni’s goal just after half-time put paid to Nigeria’s prospects of claiming a fourth Africa Cup of Nations crown.
In this feature, we highlight a few reactions following the Super Eagles’ exit.
AdvertisementBackpagePix.Weak response to going behind
Admittedly, Alex Iwobi’s 66th-minute sending off made things doubly difficult for the Super Eagles, yet Tunisia’s preference for containment meant the West Africans still had the upper hand.
Regardless, very little was created in the subsequent half-hour, although Moses Simon and Umar Sadiq had chances to level.
Some wondered how Nigeria would react to going behind at Afcon 2021, having led in all three group stage games, and they got their answer on Sunday.
Umar Sadiq’s cameo showed promise
The Almeria frontman had been widely criticised following previous showings since his debut against Egypt, but Sunday’s display offered some encouragement.
Sadiq won every one-v-one tussle in those 16 minutes and could have levelled for the West African giants late on for his second Nigeria goal.
While he may be a step below Victor Osimhen, judging the frontman after a handful of appearances will be ill-advised.
Fans are yet to witness the full Sadiq experience.
GettyShackling Simon dulled Nigeria
Moses Simon had been the competition’s finest performer hitherto Sunday’s encounter, so there was always going to be a plan to render him ineffectual.
There was an obvious inclination to double-team the Nantes wide attacker — and by extension, Samuel Chukwueze — thus curbing Nigeria’s effectiveness from wide positions.
Eguavoen’s troops mostly attacked down the flanks, so limiting their wingers meant the three-time champions carried almost no threat as there was little central invention.