The Super Eagles of Nigeria bounced back to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in Bissau on Monday.
The vital win was secured thanks to a goal from winger Moses Simon, who scored the decisive goal in the first half of the game.
The Super Eagles dominated the opening quarter of the game but faced resilient defending from Guinea-Bissau, who were content to sit back and soak up the pressure from their visitors.
Despite dominating possession and piling on the pressure, it took a brilliant run from Fenerbahce fullback, Bright Osayi-Samuel, to break the deadlock. He was hacked down in the Guinea-Bissau box, and the Moroccan referee had no choice but to point to the spot. Moses calmly stepped up to convert the penalty and give Nigeria the lead just before the half-hour mark.
Nigeria continued to push forward, and they had several opportunities to increase their lead in the second half. They came close when Victor Osimhen rattled the post, and Joe Aribo also saw his well-taken effort saved by the Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper.
The Super Eagles had suffered a shock defeat at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja in their last game, and they knew that only a win in Bissau would be good enough to reclaim their place at the top of the table. They started the game on a positive note, and their determination and resilience paid off in the end.
The victory sees Nigeria back at the top of Group A, and they will now look to build on this result in their next game.
While it was a hard-fought win, it will give the Super Eagles a much-needed boost of confidence as they aim to qualify for the next African Cup of Nations.