Nigeria throttle Ivory Coast in African Nations C’ship

JOHANNESBURG: Nigeria's Super Eagles defeated their Ivorian counterparts, the Elephants, 4-1 in the first leg of the African Nations Championship at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna on Saturday.
The game started on a bright note for Nigeria as Sunday Mba set the tone pulling the strings in the middle for Nigeria. It didn't take the Super Eagles long to settle as Ezekiel Mba tormented the Ivorian right side of defence.
Nigeria got a free kick in the fifth minute of the match when Coulibaly Topio upended Gomo Onduku, but Sunday Mba blasted wide.
The Ivorians gradually came into the game, as Fouyseni Coulibaly dragged his shot wide after a clean interchange of passes with Kassi Mathias.
Nigeria didn't wait long for the first goal to come as the Sunday Mba who had been working tirelessly in midfield set up Gambo Mohammed to slot home with a low drive in the 15th minute of play.
The Ivory Coast almost equalised when Kaba Mohamed's free kick went slightly over the bar with goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim stranded.
The Super Eagles got their second goal through Sunday Mba whose 20-yard scorcher rested in the back of goalkeeper Gbohouo Sylvain's net after some good work by Ezekiel Mba and Gomo Onduku in the 28th minute.
The Ivorians piled a lot of pressure on the Eagles and that resulted to a well crafted goal by Coulibaly Tiecoura at the tail end of the first half.
The second half started on a bright note for Nigeria with Sunday Mba gradually asserting himself in the game. His low shot in the 47th minute went wide but he made amends in the 51st minute when he converted a spot kick after a handball during a goalmouth melee in the Ivorian defence.
The Ivory Coast were reduced to nine men in quick succession as Roger Assale and Baresi Gloudeaou were red carded by the centre referee.
The Super Eagles piled on the pressure on the Ivorians with Sunday Mba missing narrowly from a chipped shot after goalkeeper Gbohouo rushed out of his goal area.
Azubuike Egwuekwe also placed a header wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure against a tiring Ivorian side.
Nigeria went head in the 83rd minute through substitute Ifeanyi Ede, who turned his marker in and slotted into the net to give Nigeria a 4-1 lead.
The return leg will take place in a fortnight in Abidjan.