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2021 Africa Cup of Nations
Match 19, Group D
Nigeria v Sudan
Roumde Adjia Stadium
Garoua, Cameroon
Saturday, 15 January 2022
Kick-off is at 17h00
Nigeria will be looking to make it two wins from two at the
Africa Cup of Nations when they take on Sudan in a Group D clash at the Roumde Adjia Stadium on January 15.
Augustine Eguavoen's side got off to the perfect start in Cameroon when they beat fellow title contenders Egypt 1-0 on January 11, with Kelechi Iheanacho proving to be the matchwinner.
The West African giants lead the group by two points after the Falcons of Jediane held Guinea-Bissau to a goalless draw in their AFCON opener.
Nigeria are seeking their fourth title after conquering Africa in 1980, 1994, and 2013. This is their 19th appearance at the biennial tournament and they have only ever failed to reach the knockout stages on two occasions.
Eguavoen is determined to avoid any shock results in their final two group matches and will show respect to the opposition, no matter their standing in the rankings.
"We are going to approach every game like it is a final so we are going to take it game after game and see where we will get to because every team that has come to AFCON should be respected regardless of the name of the country," the 56-year-old said in his post-match interview.
"So if you don't plan well and put in effort you can be shocked. I don't know who is going to win it but we will try in our own way to approach every game with every seriousness it deserves."
Sudan have some history in the competition as one of the standout performers in the early years since its inception. They finished third in the inaugural finals in 1957, were runners-up in 1959 and 1963, before winning Africa's biggest prize in 1970.
However, the Northeast Africans have only qualified for the showpiece event five times since being crowned champions and went beyond the group stages just once - in 2012 when they reached the quarter-finals.
Head coach Burhan Tia insists the Falcons of Jediane are not just looking to make up the numbers, but are building towards a return to the glory days.
"Our team is young, and we are building for the future. The spirit, ambition and motivation will be our strong weapons in the tournament," Tia told CAFOnline.
"There is nothing impossible in football. The group might be strong, but with good preparations and concentration we will be able to make it to the knockout stage.
"We need to prove a point that we have developed and belong to the top group since we have won the AFCON trophy before."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Meetings)
Matches - 5
Nigeria - 4
Sudan - 1
Draws - 0
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