12 mins: Gradel gets forward down the right wing and sequeezes past Ademola Lookman before swinging in a cross. Haller is the target for Ivory Coast but the ball drops over the top of his head and Ola Aina boots the ball out of play.
Corner Ivory Coast.
16 mins: Nigeria’s first real foray into the Ivory Coast final third sees Samuel Chukwueze bring the ball through the middle before slipping a pass out to the left for Ademola Lookman.
He lifts a cross into the middle hoping to find Victor Osimhen but Evan Ndicka manages to get the ball clear before it reaches the striker.
19 mins: Zaidu Sanusi makes a mistake trying to head the ball back to his goalkeeper, Max Gradel nips in behind the defndder but just can’t reach the ball before it bounces out for a corner.
21 mins: Close! The corner ball is whipped into the penalty area and hits Evan Ndicka on the arm. It bounces loose and comes to Gradel who attempts an overhead kick from near the far post but sends the effort wide.
Ivory Coast are knocking on the door.
24 mins: Nigeria haven’t managed to create a chance on goal yet – either on or off target. Ivory Coast meanwhile have had five with two being decent opportunities to score.
The Super Eagles will be patient though. Their quality up top and in defence means they may only need one chance to win this game.
27 mins: Ndicka and Osimhen clash after the forward felt he took a forearm to the back of his head. The referee does his best to separate the two.
That should add a bit more spice to the contest.
30 mins: Ivory Coast have been the better team over the first half an hour as the teams take a break to take on some fluids due the to high temperatures.
Nigeria need to work hard and get themselves properly into the match. They need more time in possession to put pressure back onto the hosts.