Nigeria 3-1 Sudan: Super Eagles cruise into knockout stages

Nigeria confirmed their place in the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations with a routine 3-1 win over Sudan in Group D.

First-half goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Taiwo Awoniyi put the Super Eagles on their way, before Moses Simon added a third after the break.

Nigeria shipped a consolation goal, courtesy of Walieldin Khidir's penalty, but could now be crowned Group D winners with a match to spare, depending on Egypt's result against Guinea-Bissau.

Nigeria took less than five minutes to make the breakthrough, with Chukwueze finishing coolly after a long throw was hurled into the Sudan penalty area before Union Berlin forward Awoniyi deflected in a rebound from Kelechi Iheanacho's free-kick.

Having flown out of the traps in the first half, Nigeria did likewise in the second, with Nantes attacker Simon, who was lively throughout, volleying home.

Khidir fired home from the spot after a VAR check penalised Ola Aina's clumsy challenge on Mustafa Karshoum.

After beating Mohammed Salah's Egypt in their opening game, Nigeria have now won their opening two matches at two consecutive Cup of Nations tournaments for the first time ever, while Sudan have won just one of their last 15 Africa Cup of Nations games, a run stretching back to 1972.

2:14 - Samuel Chukwueze has scored Nigeria's second fastest AFCON goal since Opta began collecting this data (2010), after Odion Ighalo's strike after 2 minutes and 9 seconds against Tunisia in the 2019 edition. Hurry. #AFCON2021 #TeamNigeria pic.twitter.com/837WlhT3oC

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) January 15, 2022