Nigeria vs Sudan summary: score, goals, highlights, AFCON 2021

Many thanks for joining us today for the latest installment of AFCON 2021 as Nigera outclassed Sudan.

Cheers and we look forward to catching you all again soon.

Little for Sudan to complain about today with the men in red being outplayed for the bulk of the 90 minutes. A consolation goal from the spot was as good as it got for the Falcons of Jediane

Chukwueze, Awoniyi and Simon on target for the Super Eagles today with stand-in coach Aguistine Eguavoen able to rest key players in the final group game against Guinea-Bissau next Wednesday.

The whistle sounds and Nigeria secure three points with a comfortable 3-1 win over Sudan.

A real gulf in quality between both sides and Sudan will need to get a result against neighbours Egypt.

Man of the match (again) today is Super Eagles central player Moses Simon

Sudan have been well outclassed today and had their task made that but easier with an early goal in the opening minutes as Villarreal's Samuel Chukwueze opened the scoing in the 3rd minute.

We'll have another four minutes of added time

Omer Yagoub is the man making way for Sharif

Sudan captain Nemer down with Sharif set to come on

Nigeria now back in control as Sudan's impetus following the goal has subsided.

Sadiq fouled as Nigeria opt to play the free short and elect to knock the ball back to the central players.

Sadiq on for Nigeria with Awoniyi making way for the Almeria man. The striker did get a run out against Egypt and is a massively talented attacking player.

January 19 sees the staging of the final two games in Group D as Nigeria will face Guinea-Bissau with Sudan taking on Egypt.

Iwobi has looked excellent since his introduction.

Iwobi feeds Taiwo Awoniyi and the Union Berlin man drives the ball into the side netting.

Sudan rallied from the goal and look to press now. Nigeria will need to manage the game well now and keep the opposition at bay as they are fired up from the panalty.

A soft penalty but reckless from the Nigeria man

And indeed a spot kick for Sudan. Card for Aina too for his pull.

A shirt pull from Aina ?

Gomes to check VAR for a possibility spot kick for Sudan

another Nigeria switch as Kelechi Nwakali comes on for Aribo

Changes for Nigeria too as Musa comes on for Iheanacho

Mohamed Hussein(in) - Yasin Hamed(out) (Sudan)

Winning group D would see Nigeria face the best third placed side from either group B/E or F with the game played here in Garoua.

Okoye called into action and the keeper needs two bites of the cherry to hold the ball.  An hour gone in Garoua and Nigeria looking good for another six points.

Sudan still looking for a way to penetrate the solid Nigeria defence. The Super Eagles were never part of the discussion as pre-tournament favourites but the win over Egypt and a solid performance tonight may have experts reviewing their picks. Senegal have been average in both their games with Cameroon and Morocco impressing their opening games.

Sudan reeling now with the Falcons of Jediane shipping early goals at the start of both halves. Maduka Okoye hasn't had much work to do tonight.

Subs for Sudan: Dhiya Mahjoub replaces Gumaa Abas Omer and Algozoli Hussien and he takes the place of Musab Eisa

35 seconds of the half had elapsed as the Nantes man skipped into the box and latched onto the bouncing ball to steer home.

Goooooool. Simon bags the third

Off we go in Garoua as Nigeria start the action

Changes for both sides as Alex Iwobi makes way for Chukwueze

Changes looking likely from Sudan as the match officials lead both sides back to the pitch

The whistle sounds and Nigeria head in with a commanding 2-0 lead. Samuel Chukwueze with the early striker to calm any nerves and Awoniyi making it two on the stroke of half-time

Sudan were sloppy in dealing with that attack. William Troost-Ekong flicked on and the keeper parried the ball into the path of the Union Berlin man

3 minutes of time will be added

Chukwueze does well and is clipped with Nigeria awarded a dangerous free.

Taiwo Awoniyi is clipped and Nigeria are awarded a freekick. The second Super Eagles goal now looking likelier than a strike for Sudan.

Less than five minutes remain as Aribo has a chance to make it 2-0 but the Rangers man slides the ball wide.

Another player down now as play is held up. Anlour Mohammed the man down.

Sudan clear and Nigeria bounce back as the ball strikes a Sudan hand. A miracle that ball failed to end in the Sudan net after that melee in the box.

Simon clipped and Nigeria win a dangerous free-kick. The Nantes man to take and drills the ball into the box. The ball falls to William Troost-Ekong as the keeper saves from close range

Less than 15 remain here in Garoua and Nigeria well in charge but unable to improve on that early Samuel Chukwueze strike.

The Sudan no. 25 seemed to fall awkwardly as he fell but fortunately seems okay to carry on.

Worry for Sudan as Musab lies in the centre of the pitch in some distress.

Taiwo Awoniyi almost makes it two but his effort is well saved by the Sudanese stopper who sees the ball goes wide for a corner. The Union Berlin striker was hungry in the game vs Egypt and is looking keen to bag his first goal in a Nigeria shirt.

Possession after 25': Nigeria 56-44 Sudan (%)

Sudan resort to long and speculative balls into the box which are easy for Nigeria to deal with and even easier to handle if the balls are over-hit.

Nigeria very much in charge here as they dominate proceedings. Sudan yet to forge chances and apart from the long range effort, little of concern for Okoye in the Nigeria goal.

Mohamed Al Rashed goes to ground and seems to be in trouble. He's been one of the better Sudan players in the opening spell of the contest.

Plenty of fans filling the ground now despite the 30,000 ground being far from full. Apart from games involving Cameroon, attendances have been average here in the rest of the group games.

Nice work from Moses Simon as he beats two men in red and feeds the ball back to the central area. The Nantes man was outstanding in Tuesday's win against Egypt.

Sudan win their first corner of the night as they look to hit back. Plenty of red shirts in the box but Nigeria clear, Sudan strike from the edge of the area through Shambaly and Okoye is forced to dive and save. Much better from Sudan now.

Aribo crosses and despite a massive leap, Chukwueze is unable to get his head on the ball.

Better now from Sudan as they look to deprive of Nigeria with time on the ball. The final ball from the men in red could be better though !

Sudan reeling from that early goal. The last thing that Burhan Tiya's side needed was to ship an early goal.

Hoping for more from Villarreal man Samuel Chukuweze tonight with the striker failing to set the pulse racing in the game against Egypt.

A reminder of the team news as kick-off is imminent.... It's going Sudan to be who start the action.

Nigeria 'drip'

Nigeria in their super stylish white & green home shirt today, the smartest at AFCON?

National anthem with that of Nigeria first up. Sudan's turn and all these anthems prove is that footballers are better athletes than they are singers !

Victor Gomes (South Africa) is our match official today.

The players are in the tunnel with kick off less than ten minutes away.

As mentioned by Sudan manager Tiya, his side will be without key striker Mohamed Abdel Rahman today thrugh injury.

Will Nigeria deliver another performance today as they did in the AFCON opener with the 1-0 win over Egypt in a game that could have indeed ended 2 or 3 nil to the Super Eagles. Maybe the removal of the unpopular Gernot Rohr was instrumental in seeing the West African side play with far more purpose and flair as we saw in recent Qatar World Cup qualifiers.

AFCON-Group D

Here's how Group D looks ahead of this evening's Nigeria-Sudan and Egypt-Guinea-Bissau matches

Fans slowly making their way into the Roumdé Adija Stadium in Garoua with less than 30 minutes to go to kick-off.

The other Group D game takes place later this evening as Egypt will look to bounce back following their disappointing display in the AFCON opener against Nigeria as the place Guinea Bissau

Garoua match weather

Another really hot day for the players to contend with. A current temperature of 35C/95F prevails in the city of Garoua.

Nigeria will wear their home kit today with white/green shirt and green shorts with Sudan set to wear all red.

Pre-game view: Burhan Tiya (Sudan Coach)

"We play with a great team with high-level stars, but we will play with a balance between defense and attack. The absence of Mohamed Abdel Rahman is a blow, but we have a number of young players waiting for an opportunity to appear."

Pre-game view: Agustin Eguavoen (Coach, Nigeria)

"I am happy with the players and their ability to give their best on the pitch. I am focused on winning against Sudan at the moment. I am not thinking about anything else or how we will start our third match. We are completely focused on our match against Sudan. Beating Egypt was not easy, and we are looking forward to continuing our victories and qualifying for the next round."

and the Sudan XI

Super Eagles XI

A draw or win would be enough to see the Super Eagles claim a place in the AFCON Round of 16 with Sudan needing at minimum a point to keep competition hopes alive. Nigeria were excellent against against Egypt and Sudan bagged a creditable draw against Guinea Bissau. Sudan face Egypt in the final group game whilst Nigeria face the Djurtus.

Indeed the current FIFA rankings do little to ease the aspirations of Sudan fans ahead of the game with their side currently placed at 124 with Nigeria currently sitting at 34th place.

Goals are very much Sudan’s issue: The Falcons of Jediane have failed to find the net in seven of their last eight games and Burhan Tia’s side have lost five of their last six against Nigeria. Sudan also lack a squad with experience of many leagues outside of their home nation, with only Muhamed Amin (Motala AIF) and Yasin Hamed (Nyiregyhaza Spartacus) of the squad playing abroad.

Nigeria will seek to ensure their passage to the last 16 of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations by extending their winning run against Sudan today. The Super Eagles beat Egypt 1-0 in their opening game of the tournament courtesy of a Kelechi Iheanacho goal and top Group D heading in the game at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium with Sudan and Guinea-Bissau both on one point after paying out a goalless draw.

The game at Garoua's 30,000 Roumdé Adija Stadium kicks-off at 17:00 CET/11:00 ET.

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live Africa Cup of Nations coverage ahead of today's Group D clash as Nigeria take on Sudan.