Hosts Ivory Coast take on Nigeria in the second group stage match of Group A in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Ivory Coast come into this one on the back of a comfortable 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the opening match of the tournament.
While Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea. Victor Osimhen scored the only goal for the Super Eagles, and the Napoli striker will be the man to watch out for this evening.
Seko Fofana of Al Nassr scored a rocket to kick off Ivory Coast’s tournament and he is the main man in midfield for the hosts.
The Sporting News is following the match live and providing live score updates, commentary.
MORE: AFCON results, scores, group tables
Ivory Coast vs Nigeria live score
Score Goalscorer Ivory Coast 0 — Nigeria 1 Troost-Ekong 55′
Ivory Coast vs Nigeria live updates, highlights from AFCON
88th minute: Osimhen’s race is run as he’s subbed for Paul Onuachu.
86th minute: Fofana again attempts something extraordinary and once more misses the target.
80th minute: Nigeria’s defence is holding well so far as wave after wave of Ivory Coast attack comes at them.
75th minute: CHANCE for Ivory Coast! The ball comes into the back post and N’Dicka does well to meet it but again they can’t force the goalkeeper into making a save.
70th minute: Sangare wastes a free-kick as he blasts it way over the bar and that takes us to the drinks break.
68th minute: A triple change for the hosts! Bamba, Pepe and Singo come on for Aurier, Boga and Kouame.
62nd minute: Osimhen has a wonderful opportunity to double his side’s lead but he can’t get his header on target.
60th minute: The referee has just had a word with the Nigerian goalkeeper about potential time-wasting. There’s half an hour to play!
55th minute: GOAL! It’s the Nigerian centre-back William Troost-Ekong who smashes it in and Nigeria lead!
The hosts are behind! 😲
William Troost-Ekong was not messing around with that penalty! 💥 pic.twitter.com/sK2eIIp0pu
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 18, 2024
54th minute: PENALTY! Ousmane Diomande commits the foul on Victor Osimhen.
48th minute: Christian Kouame and Calvin Bassey clash heads and the Nigerian has seeks treatment.
46th minute: We’re back underway in West Africa.
HT: That’s it for the first half! It was a bright start from the two teams and they can both be disappointed that they haven’t scored yet. The finishing will need to improve in the second half if we’re to see a winner today.
45+1: Iwobi does brilliantly down the left flank and beats his man but his next touch just takes the ball out of play.
45th minute: There will be three minutes of added time.
44th minute: The Super Eagles’ corner makes its way to the far post but Sanusi can’t keep his composure and snatches at it.
37th minute: The Nigerians protest for a penalty but the referee waves play on. That may have hit a hand…
33rd minute: Serge Aurier is having his work cut out for him and it’s turning into a good battle between the right-back and Osimhen. The Napoli striker’s pace is electric.
30th minute: What a block by Sanusi! Kouame looks to follow in Fofana’s long-range effort but the Nigerian makes an essential challenge.
25th minute: Water break. The players go to the sidelines to rehydrate and the fans continue to bounce around and sing their hearts out.
22nd minute: This game is really beginning to open up as both sides are finding themselves in good attacking positions. Osimhen’s overhead kick attempt is blocked by Ndicka.
16th minute: Both sides have had early chances but are yet to truly test the goalkeepers. The intensity has been impressive given the conditions so far.
13th minute: Samuel Chukwueze is the man causing problems for Ivory Coast, the hosts haven’t found a solution to handle him yet.
8th minute: Osimhen’s first involvement sees him use his pace to get in behind and is picked out well but his left-footed finish sails over the bar. Nigeria are looking dangerous through their front man.
4th minute: Brentford’s Frank Onyeka tries his luck but can’t quite hit the target. There’s also an early stoppage as Calvin Bassey is down after colliding with his teammate.
1st minute: Nigeria get the game underway!
5 minutes until kickoff: Didier Drogba and Victor Osimhen share a moment before kickoff. Imagine these two as striker partners…
Didier Drogba & Victor Osimhen ahead of 🇨🇮vs🇳🇬. [BeIN Sports] pic.twitter.com/79D8Lw0d5X
— CFCDaily (@CFCDaily) January 18, 2024
15 minutes until kickoff: It’s nearly 100 degrees at the stadium right now. That’s the typically tough conditions these players have faced so far in this tournament. Substitutions at the right time could be crucial.
20 minutes until kickoff: A stat to watch out for tonight. If Seko Fofana or Jean-Philippe Krasso score, they could become the first player to find the back of the net in both of Ivory Coast’s opening two matches of an Africa Cup of Nations tournament since Gervinho and Yaya Toure in 2013.
35 minutes until kickoff: Your Ivory Coast starting XI: Fofana (GK) — Aurier, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan — Kessie, Sangare, S. Fofana — Boga, Krasso, Kouame.
45 minutes until kickoff: Elsewhere in Group A, Equatorial Guinea briefly takes top spot as they beat Guinea Bissau 4-2 thanks to Emilio Nsue’s hat-trick.
🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea 4-2 Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼
Equatorial Guinea win the battle of the Guinea’s at #AFCON2023, thanks to 34-year-old Emilio Nsue’s hat-trick.
That hat-trick was the first scored at the AFCON since January 2008. pic.twitter.com/s3xn09cM8Z
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) January 18, 2024
50 minutes until kickoff: Nigeria’s starting XI this evening: Nwabali (GK) — Aina, Troost-Ekong, Ajayi, Basey — Onyeka, Zaidu — Iwobi, Chukwueze, Lookman — Osimhen.
1 hour until kickoff: It should be a cracking atmosphere this evening. Team news is next…
The whole of Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮 heading to the stadium ahead of the Nigeria 🇳🇬 game. #IvoryCoast #AFCON #AFCON2024 #AFCON23 #CAN2023 #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/aWlpTzP5DZ
— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) January 18, 2024
1 hour 30 minutes until kickoff: Could we see Haller in action today? Ivory Coast manager Jean-Louis Gasset provided this update: “The decision to select him was always based on when he would be available and he joined the rest of the team in training and we are hopeful he will be fit.
“We will evaluate his progress and make a judgement on his participation for the match at the appropriate time.”
2 hours until kickoff: Who do you think takes this one? The Sporting News’ live blog coverage will take you right up to kick-off time. Stay tuned.
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire 🆚 Nigeria 🇳🇬
Predictions? 🔥@1xBet_Eng | #CIVNGA | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2024
Ivory Coast vs Nigeria lineups
Sebastien Haller is the only injury concern for Ivory Coast and the Borussia Dortmund striker misses out this evening.
Ivory Coast starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): Fofana (GK) — Aurier, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan — Kessie, Sangare, S. Fofana — Boga, Krasso, Kouame.
Ivory Coast subs: Badra Sangare; Singo, Kossounou, Boly, Diallo, Seri, Diakite, Lazare, Pepe, Gradel, Bamba, Konate.
Nigeria will look to Victor Osimhen as their main man up top for them as Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho is carrying an injury and missed the first game. He may be fit enough to be involved in the squad from the bench.
Nigeria starting lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right): Nwabali (GK) — Aina, Troost-Ekong, Ajayi, Basey — Onyeka, Zaidu — Iwobi, Chukwueze, Lookman — Osimhen.
Nigeria subs: Nzuho, Musa, Aribo, Bruno, Osayi, Iheanacho, Simon, Onuachu, Omeruo, Awaziem, Onyedika
How to watch AFCON 2024?
Here’s how to watch AFCON 2024 matches across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
Region TV Streaming USA beIN Sports Fubo, beIN Sports Connect, Fanatiz Canada beIN Sports Canada
Fubo Canada, beIN Sports Connect, Fanatiz
UK Sky Sports, BBC Sport Sky GO, Now TV, BBC iPlayer Australia beIN Sports beIN Sports India — FanCode
USA: The tournament will be available on beIN Sports with streaming options on Fubo.
Canada: BeIN Sports will provide broadcast coverage with Fubo Canada on streaming duty.
UK: Selected matches will be available on Sky Sports services with streaming available via Sky GO and Now TV. BBC Sport will also be covering designated games at the tournament.
Australia: BeIN Sports will provide broadcast coverage and streaming services for the tournament.
India: Streaming service FanCode is the place to go for AFCON 2024 matches.