Anthony Onifade

Mon 15 January 2024 7:27, UK

West Brom defender Semi Ajayi completed the full 90 minutes for Nigeria in their opening African Cup of Nations group-stage game against Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria began their pursuit of a fourth AFCON title with an unconvincing 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday (14 January).

Ivan Salvador netted the opening goal in the 36th minute, swiftly followed by Victor Osimhen’s equalizer for Nigeria just two minutes later, a damaging result for the Super Eagles after seeing hosts Ivory Coast win their opening match against Guinea-Bassau on Saturday (13 January).

And Nigerian online outlet All Nigeria Soccer (14 January) took to their player ratings after the game and did not have kind words for West Brom star Ajayi.

The 30-year-old was handed a rating of 5/10 and an assessment which read: “The West Brom defender looked shaky all afternoon having made a lot of errors in judgment despite the team being on the front foot for most of the game.”

Unconvincing

Ajayi and his teammates will be mightily disappointed by their display and result against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, a game where they should have been comfortable and won.

The Super Eagles had been unconvincing in the lead-up to the tournament and there’d been a lot of doubts about their ability to go far in the tournament as a result.

Nigeria now move on to face hosts Ivory Coast on Thursday, a game where they will need so much improvement and a clinical edge which they lacked on Sunday.

A tall, athletic, strong and defensively sound centre-back but most of all, an experienced one, Ajayi offers a totally different profile to what Carlos Corberan currently possesses at centre-back.

However, it wasn’t his best display on Sunday but one he will be determined to put right when it matters most against the competition’s hosts.

In other West Brom news, the Baggies are in line to receive a windfall after transfer news has emerged from the Hawthorns this week.