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Second half substitute Chisom Chikatara inspired Nigeria to a crushing 4-1 win over Niger in their African Nations Championships opening match at Kigali’s Nyamirambo stadium on Monday. The Abia Warriors star grabbed a hat-trick late in the second half to give Nigeria bragging rights over their West African neighbors.
After a barren first half, Nigeria turned on the heat when winger Osas Okoro put them ahead a minute into the second half. Okoro had a role in the second when his long ball deep in the Niger area found Chikatara, who controlled the ball on his chest before firing home his first after 74th minutes. Zakaria Adebayor pulled one back for Niger in the 81st minute.
SEE MORE: <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2016/01/17/dr-congo-stun-ethiopia-cameroon-pip-angola-in-african-nations-championship/">DR Congo stun Ethiopia; Cameroon pip Angola.</a>
Earlier, debutants Guinea twice came from behind to earn a deserved 2-2 draw with Tunisia, in a match two opposing strikers each grabbed a brace.
Tunisia drew the first blood through Ahmed Akaichi in the 33rd minute when the Etoile du Sahel dangerman flicked home a right cross from Hamza Mathlouthi. Seven minutes later Alseny Camara Agogo punished a sloppy Tunisia defence, tapping home a Ibrahim Bangoura’s low cross from the left flank. Tunisia reclaimed their lead in the 51 minute when Akaichi scored his second on the counter attack, but Agogo came back to level after 83 minutes to cap an evenly contested encounter.
Group D matches get underway on Tuesday at the Umuganda stadium in Gisenyi, where neighbours Zambia and Zimbabwe meet in the first match before Mali take on Cecafa champions Uganda.

African Nations Championship: Stylish Nigeria down Niger, Tunisia draw Guinea - World Soccer Talk

African Nations Championship: Stylish Nigeria down Niger, Tunisia draw Guinea

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Democratic Republic of Congo made a blazing start to the 2016 African Nations championships when they shocked Ethiopia 3-0 in their Group B opener at Butare’s Huye stadium on Sunday.
Midfielder Heritier Luvumbu was the hero, scoring one and creating two goals to give the 2009 champions an impressive start.
Luvumbu tormented Ethiopia and could have opened the scoring on the hour mark when he forced goalkeeper Abel Mamo to save a left-footed effort with his legs.
Guy Lusadisu broke the deadlock a minute before the break when he converted Luvumbu’s low cross from close range.
Luvumbu still had time to double Congo’s advantage before the interval while Meshack Elia ended any Ethiopian resistence on 57 minutes.
In the second Group B match, 10-man Cameroon defeated Angola 1-0 thanks to Atouba Emane’s 22nd minute free-kick, despite having Alberto Nguem sent off.
Ghana will face off with Tunisia while Niger play Nigeria in the opening Group C matches in Kigali on Monday.

African Nations Championship: Stylish Nigeria down Niger, Tunisia draw Guinea

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship: Stylish Nigeria down Niger, Tunisia draw Guinea

African Nations Championship

DR Congo stun Ethiopia in African Nations Championship