Nigeria landed a major blow in the race for AFCON knockout qualification by defeating hosts Ivory Coast 1-0 in Thursday’s titanic Group A clash.

In front of a packed Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, the two African heavyweights served up a pulsating contest.

The Ivorian fans were silenced when William Troost-Ekong converted a 54th-minute penalty after Victor Osimhen was fouled.

Despite relentless roars of support, the Elephants could not find an equaliser as the Super Eagles held on for a famous victory.

Nigeria managed the closing stages expertly to condemn the stunned Elephants to their first defeat.

The Super Eagles stood tall in the face of intense Ivorian pressure to land a psychological blow on one of Africa’s proudest footballing nations.

The 1-0 triumph lifts Nigeria level on four points with surprise package Equatorial Guinea at the Group A summit.

Ivory Coast remain third on three points and likely need to beat Equatorial Guinea to reach the knockouts.

(CAFonline)