Three-time winners Nigeria drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea in their Africa Cup of Nations opener on Sunday afternoon.
Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili was between the sticks for the Super Eagles, who had star striker Victor Osimhen flanked by Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman before Alhassan Yusuf debuted.
The Super Eagles were keen to hit the ground running as a snap shot from a short run-up by Osimhen from a tight angle sailed wide of the mark.
Nzalang Nacional stunned the Super Eagles past the half-hour mark when Ivan Salvador stormed in on the edge of the area and tucked in a well-weighted pass as Nigeria failed to clear their lines.
Osimhen levelled immediately after he leaped on the end of a floated cross to the far post of the penalty area and applied a close-range finish off the head.
Nigeria should’ve grabbed the halftime lead with a penetrative opportunity from a tight angle by Simon, but Equatorial goalkeeper Jesus Owono parried onto the outside post.
Owono remained steadfast when improvised goalkeeping parried Zaidu Sanusi’s teasing shot into play shortly after halftime before Lookman retrieved the follow-up and slammed over.
Nigeria kept coming midway through the second spell where fullback Ola Aina weaved past one challenge to get goal-side and forced Owono to a smart save.
The Super Eagles presented a double change in the last 20 minutes of the contest, as Joe Aribo stepped on for Yusuf before Simon filled out to see Samuel Chukwueze come on.
Osimhen missed a golden chance to bag a brace later on when he beat the offside trap to go clean through, but he went agonizingly wide of the mark.
Nigeria squandered another opportunity in added time from a cross in the box, but neither of their front-men managed to connect and 1-1 it finished.
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