AFCON 2021: What to expect as Super Eagles face Sudan in crucial group game

While the football world is yet to get over the Super Eagles’ historic win against Africa’s most successful national team in their AFCON 2021 opener on Tuesday, Nigeria would be looking forward to raising the bar of performance higher by securing more points to book a place in the next round.

Super Eagles will face the Falcons of Jediane – Sudan this evening in a crucial match that will decide the fate of other teams in Group D. African streaming service, Showmax, is streaming the game live and in HD, courtesy of SuperSport.

With an extraordinary performance that caged the Pharaohs, Super Eagles made a resounding statement that caught the eye of the football world and gave confidence to many other teams who previously dreaded Egypt as AFCON 2021 favourite.

Before Tuesday’s defeat to Nigeria, the Pharaohs of Egypt had never lost an AFCON group match since 2004 when they lost 2-1 to Algeria. After winning the tournament seven times, the Pharaohs are the only team on the continent with the highest number of AFCON trophies on their shelf.

Pundits are hoping that the Super Eagles will sustain their potent display seen in the first group game as they move on in the tournament.

The Falcons of Jediane have one point following a goalless draw against Guinea-Bissau, while Nigeria holds on proudly to three points from Egypt as they sit atop Group D.

Burhan Tia, Sudan’s coach, believes today’s match “will not be easy, as well as facing Egypt, but these are matches that we have put in our minds and our program before the tournament.”

Expect Sudan to give their all, and Egypt will not be treating Guinea-Bissau with kids gloves.

Another three points from Sudan will land the Super Eagles in the next round of AFCON as they continue their quest for another AFCON glory after winning their last trophy in 2013 under coach Stephen Keshi, the first Nigerian and one of the few Africans to win the AFCON as a player and a coach.

Attention is also on Augustine Eguaveon, and pundits are rooting for him to also write his name in the history books as one of the former players who won AFCON as a coach. Before then he may need to work on his team’s attack.

There has been some criticism of the Super Eagles’ failure to utilise many scoring chances against Egypt. Eguavoen, in his pre-match briefing, says he believes that “it is important not to build a team on just one individual who will be responsible for scoring the goals. We all try to assist one another. If you are not in a good position, assist your teammate because we all take the glory at the end of the day.”

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