Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated Blue Sharks of Cape Verde 2-1 to stay firm at the top of Group C of the African race of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
A 75th
minute own goal by Cape Verde earned Nigeria a 2-1 win in their qualifying
clash in Mindelo on Tuesday, a result that stabilized the Super Eagles’
leadership of the pool as they await a home-and-away fixture against Central
African Republic next month.
Dylan dos
Santos steered the home team in front after 19 minutes of an intense
back-and-forth by both sides, when he slipped behind the Eagles’ rearguard and
slammed a rocket of a shot past goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.
The
three-time African champions refused to be brow-beat, and launched series of
attacks, with Chidera Ejuke forcing the opposing goalkeeper to an acrobatic
save in the 27th minute. Two minutes later, an alert Victor Osimhen would pull
Nigeria level, stabbing home from close range after the goalkeeper punched
following a defensive blunder.
In the 41st
minute, the lively Ejuke again rattled the Cape Verde number one, before
Osimhen came close to adding another one from a corner with a minute to recess.
In the
second half, Ahmed Musa latched onto a centre by Osimhen as the Eagles pushed
forward, but his tame shot was easily collected. Substitute Onyekuru was also
guilty of putting too low a purchase on his shot in the 73rd minute as Nigeria
streamed to the opposition area.
Two minutes
later, in a spectacular backpass to his goalkeeper, Kenny Santos scored an own
goal as the ball floated above the goaltender and landed in the net. The goal
put Nigeria in front and eventually gave the Super Eagles the three points on
the night.
Victory took
the Eagles to maximum six points from two matches, three points ahead of second
–placed Liberia, ahead of the Day 3 and 4 games scheduled for October.
Meanwhile,
Captain Ahmed Musa celebrated his 100th cap for Nigeria with a precious win.
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