Skipper Mama
Seibou scored from the penalty spot with four minutes left to put Benin
Republic in the driving seat of their 2018 African Nations Championship
qualifying fixture against Nigeria.
Seibou
stepped up to slot past Eagles' goalkeeper and Captain Ikechukwu Ezenwa after
centre back Hafeez Aremu fumbled with the ball under pressure and eventually
brought down a Beninoise forward.
The host
team dominated proceedings in the first half, stringing passes together
brilliantly and constantly putting the Nigerian defence under pressure.
After
Beninoise goalkeeper Steven Glodjinon caught a pull out by Thomas Zenke and a
shot by Chima Akas drifted away, the Squirrels took over, and Marcelin Koukpe
could have put them ahead with a header off a free kick, but it went over.
The
Squirrels showed ability from dead balls, constantly putting Ezenwa under
pressure from such openings. Kingsley Eduwo and Rabiu Ali wasted two
opportunities that came the way of the Eagles.
After
Alhassan Ibrahim and Stephen Odey came in for Ali and Zenke respectively, the
Eagles showed greater potency, and Eduwo should have done better than fluff a
pass by Osas Okoro from six yards as Nigeria broke forward in the 66th minute.
Nigeria
huffed and puffed, but it was Benin that had the breakthrough with the penalty
award four minutes to the end.
Both teams
face off in the return leg in Kano on Saturday, with the overall winners
qualifying for the finals taking place 11 January - 2 February 2018 in Kenya.
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