Nigeria sealed a 2-0 win over Congo on Tuesday evening, wrapping up their 2024 African Nations Championship campaign on a positive note.
Second-half strikes from Anas Yusuf and Sikiru Alimi were enough for the Super Eagles to clinch victory in their final Group D clash at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Eric Chelle’s men had already sealed an early exit after defeats to defending champions Senegal and Sudan in their opening games.
Still, they went into the clash with the Leopards determined to finish on a positive note.
Their opponents, on the other hand, needed a win to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
The first half showed just how much was at stake however with barely any real chances.
Congo came closest when Japhet Mankou and Dechan Moussavou both missed headed efforts, while Olamilekan Adedayo forced a save from Ulrich Samba.
The deadlock was broken in the 56th minute when Alimi rose to nod down for Yusuf, who calmly finished to score Nigeria’s first goal of the tournament.
Relief swept through the Super Eagles, long criticised for their lack of cutting edge.
Congo, meanwhile, struggled to respond, their attacks breaking down through poor choices and dogged Super Eagles defending.
Long-range efforts from Wilfrid Nkaya and Carly Ekongo failed to trouble goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt and the Leopards’ frustration grew.
In stoppage time, Charles Atipo was sent off after a VAR review turned his yellow into a straight red.
From the resulting free-kick, substitute Sodiq Ismail whipped in a perfect cross that Alimi powered home with a header to make it 2-0 in the 93rd minute.
The result ended Congo’s quarter-final hopes, while Senegal and Sudan advanced after playing out a goalless draw in Zanzibar.
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