Africa Cup of Nations
Result: Nigeria 1-0 Burundi
Date: 22 June 2019
Venue: Alexandria Stadium
Nigeria got their Africa Cup of Nations campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 triumph over Burundi at Alexandria Stadium on Saturday evening. Kaizer Chiefs shot-stopper Daniel Akpeyi was given the nod between the sticks for the Super Eagles while Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo started on the bench. Nigeria had the first decent attempt on goal in the 13th minute. A long throw in to the box was flicked on by John Obi Mikel to Paul Onuachu whose header was well saved by Swallows' goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana. Soon after, Gael Bigirimanna played an exquisite ball over the top of the Super Eagles' defence as Cedric Amissi brought the ball down with aplomb before firing first-time on the volley but Daniel Akpeyi made a sharp reflex save. In the 26th minute, Wilfred Ndidi surged through the Burundi midfield with some silky dribbling with the ball finding its way to Onuachu, who shot weakly straight at Nahimana when he perhaps should have passed. On the half-hour mark, Burundi won a free-kick when Kenneth Omeruo brought down Abdul Razak 30 yards out. Bigirimanna lined up the free-kick and made life difficult for Akpeyi, who had to parry away, with the ball moving in the air. Super Eagles captain Mikel should have given his side the lead in the 35th minute when he lost his marker in the box but could only head wide from point-blank range with Peter Etebo whipping in the corner. Two minutes later, the Swallows won a free-kick after Amissi was felled illegally by Abdullahi Shehu. Shassiri Nahimana's delivery found Frederic Nsabiyumva, whose looping header came back off the crossbar. Nigeria began the second half with more impetus and won a free-kick in the 51st minute when Onuachu was fouled by Omar Moussa on the left wing. Etebo crossed to the back post where Omeruo was in acres of space but the Chelsea defender headed narrowly over - close shave for the Swallows. Burundi striker Abdul Razak, top scorer in the qualifying campaign, came to life in the 70th minute after being kept quiet for most of the game, when he struck a stinging long-range effort towards the bottom right-hand corner but Akpeyi got down smartly to his right to push the ball away from danger. Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr yanked the ineffective Onuachu off and replaced him with Odion Ighalo, who made an instant impact, latching on to Ola Aina's brilliant back-heeled through ball to curl the ball expertly around Nahimana and in to the far corner in the 77th minute. The Swallows pushed hard for an equaliser but the Super Eagles stood firm to hold on for victory.