Africa Cup of Nations - Group B
NigeriaNigeria1BurundiBurundi0

Africa Cup of Nations 2019: Ex-Watford striker Odion Ighalo scores as Nigeria win 1-0 against Burundi

Shanghai Greenland Shenhua Odion Ighalo celebrates after scoring for Nigeria against Burundi
Shanghai Greenland Shenhua striker Odion Ighalo scored four minutes after coming on as a second half substitute

Three-time winners and 2013 champions Nigeria edged past tournament debutants Burundi at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Second half substitute Odion Ighalo scored the only goal after 77 minutes in Alexandria with a curled finish past Burundi goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana.

Burundi - the lowest-ranked side at the tournament - had struck the crossbar in the first half through defender Frederic Nsabiyumva's looping header.

Guinea face Madagascar in the other Group B match later on Saturday.

FC Midtjylland striker Paul Onuachu had Nigeria's first real chance on goal after 12 minutes as his header forced Burundi goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana in to action.

Burundi, 134th in the world standings, remained unfazed and Cedric Amissi's close-range shot required a good save from Nigeria's Daniel Akpeyi.

Arsenal's Alex Iwobi and Villarreal 20-year-old Samuel Chukwueze offered the Super Eagles' main attacking threat, but Gernot Rohr's side were frustrated by a resolute and organised Burundi side - captained by Stoke City striker Saido Berahino - until Ighalo's introduction.

The Shanghai Greenland Shenhua striker, formerly of Watford, produced a quality finish just four minutes after entering the field, following Ola Aina's delightful back-heeled pass.

Nigeria were without striker Samuel Kalu, who had been taken to hospital after suffering from "severe dehydration" in training on Friday - a day after players' union Fifpro had called for the tournament organisers to increase their planned number of heat breaks from two to four per match.

The Super Eagles now face Guinea on Wednesday (15:30 BST), while Burundi take on fellow debutants Madagascar on Thursday (15:30).

Analysis

By BBC Africa's Robert Misigaro:

For a first outing at a major tournament, Burundi can hold their head high as they showed an experienced Nigerian side they were ready for a showdown.

Burundi's inexperience at this level of the game did not show in terms of discipline, approach to the game and composure, apart from a clear lack of finishers.

Even though they lost, Burundi have a lot to be proud of and can hope to do better against a lesser opponent. A 1-0 score against Nigeria in their first ever Africa Cup of Nations game is nothing to be ashamed of.

Meanwhile, Nigeria can expect anything but an easy ride in this tournament.

Line-ups

Nigeria

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 16Akpeyi
  • 12ShehuSubstituted forAwaziemat 42'minutes
  • 5Troost-Ekong
  • 22Omeruo
  • 2Aina
  • 4Ndidi
  • 8Etebo
  • 13Chukwueze
  • 10MikelSubstituted forMusaat 58'minutes
  • 18Iwobi
  • 14OnuachuSubstituted forIghaloat 73'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Ezenwa
  • 6Balogun
  • 7Musa
  • 9Ighalo
  • 11Onyekuru
  • 15Simon
  • 19Ogu
  • 20Awaziem
  • 21Osimhen
  • 23Uzoho

Burundi

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Nahimana
  • 15Moussa
  • 16Nshimirimana
  • 19Nsabiyumva
  • 8Duhayindavyi
  • 20MoustaphaSubstituted forKamsobaat 59'minutes
  • 5Bigirimana
  • 10NahimanaBooked at 63minsSubstituted forNduwarugiraat 76'minutes
  • 17Amissi
  • 18BerahinoSubstituted forAmissiat 90+2'minutes
  • 7Abdul Razak

Substitutes

  • 2Sabumukama
  • 3Kamsoba
  • 4Kwizera
  • 6Nizigiyimana
  • 9Mavugo
  • 12Shabani
  • 13Ndikumana
  • 14Ngandu
  • 21Amissi
  • 22Nduwarugira
  • 23MacArthur
Referee:
Bernard Camille
Attendance:
3,192

Match Stats

Home TeamNigeriaAway TeamBurundi
Possession
Home65%
Away35%
Shots
Home15
Away15
Shots on Target
Home3
Away6
Corners
Home4
Away6
Fouls
Home19
Away22

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Nigeria 1, Burundi 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Nigeria 1, Burundi 0.

  3. Post update

    Corner, Burundi. Conceded by Kenneth Omeruo.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Burundi. Conceded by Ola Aina.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Odion Ighalo (Nigeria).

  6. Post update

    Frederic Nsabiyumva (Burundi) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Substitution

    Substitution, Burundi. Mohamed Amissi replaces Saido Berahino.

  8. Post update

    Offside, Burundi. Gael Bigirimana tries a through ball, but Cédric Amissi is caught offside.

  9. Post update

    Attempt saved. Gaël Duhayindavyi (Burundi) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gael Bigirimana.

  10. Post update

    Hand ball by Ola Aina (Nigeria).

  11. Post update

    Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Fiston Abdul Razak (Burundi).

  13. Post update

    Attempt missed. Odion Ighalo (Nigeria) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Alex Iwobi.

  14. Post update

    Chidozie Awaziem (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Frederic Nsabiyumva (Burundi).

  16. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Christophe Nduwarugira (Burundi) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cédric Amissi.

  17. Post update

    Corner, Burundi. Conceded by Chidozie Awaziem.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Odion Ighalo (Nigeria).

  19. Post update

    Frederic Nsabiyumva (Burundi) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Kenneth Omeruo (Nigeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Uganda11002023
2Egypt11001013
3Zimbabwe100101-10
4DR Congo100102-20

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Nigeria11001013
2Guinea10102201
3Madagascar10102201
4Burundi100101-10

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Algeria00000000
2Kenya00000000
3Senegal00000000
4Tanzania00000000

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Ivory Coast00000000
2Morocco00000000
3Namibia00000000
4South Africa00000000

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Angola00000000
2Mali00000000
3Mauritania00000000
4Tunisia00000000

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Benin00000000
2Cameroon00000000
3Ghana00000000
4Guinea-Bissau00000000
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