Super Eagles Suffer VAR Penalty Kick Setback In 3-1 Victory Over Sudan

A belated penalty call by video assistant referee (VAR) almost marred Nigeria’s victory over Sudan in their second group match at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, but the Super Eagles managed to keep their cool and win 3-1.

Megasportsarena.com reports that the victory took the Eagles into the knock-out stage with a game to spare, ahead of their last group match versus Guinea Bissau on Wednesday, but interim coach of the side, Augustine Eguavoen would have preferred a clean sheet.

Sadly, VAR spotted shirt tugging by Ola Aina on a Sudanese player inside the Eagles’ box midway through the second half, and Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Emil Maduka Okoye was sent the wrong way from the spot for The Falcons’ consolation goal in Garoua.

That came after Samuel Chukwueze opened scoring in the third minute of play, following which Taiwo Awoniyi, who looked heavy before making way for Umar Sadiq later on, made it two with a freak header on the dot of 45, after losing sitters in either half and once hit the upright.

FC Nantes of France winger, Moses Simon, who was named man of the match, after providing an assist on the first goal and another masterful show down the Eagles’ left wing, made it three one minute into the second half, few seconds after Chukwueze made way for Alex Iwobi on the right flank.

The Eagles appeared to be cruising to a huge win and possibly maintaining the clean slate they started in the 1-0 win over Egypt last Tuesday, but two simultaneous substitutions by Eguavoen appeared to have destabilized his side.

Such it was that Ahmed Musa took the skipper’s band from William Troost-Ekong after going on in place of Kelechi Iheanacho at the same time Kelechi Nwakali replaced Joe Aribo, but the new entrants did not have time to settle down into the game before VAR made the controversial call.

Nonetheless, all’s well that ends well was the story for Nigeria, as two early goals either side of half time and one just before interval ensured that they got all three points from the game in Garoua, even as they maintain top spot in Group D and look good for bragging rights against a third-placed team in the round of 16.