NIGERIA claimed a second win in two Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over hosts Cape Verde on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles had to come from behind to earn the three points, which they added to the full points they secured in Friday’s 2-0 win over Liberia in Lagos.
A Victor Osimhen strike and a bizarre own goal by Kenny Santos cancelled out Dylan Tavares’ opener for Cape Verde.
The Super Eagles, playing without several regulars who were forced out due to the United Kingdom’s Covid-19 restrictions, were slow starters on Tuesday and they got punished for it.
The hosts took the lead 20 minutes in, Tavares finding himself in acres of space in the Nigeria box before lashing a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who had left his near post open.
The Super Eagles were jolted by the goal and they improved immediately, causing the Cape Verde defence problems, especially from the left flank with Jamilu Collins’ overlapping runs and crosses.
One of those crosses caused chaos in the Cape Verde box in the 30th minute, and when a rebound fell to Osimhen, the Napoli striker bundled it home from point-blank range for his seventh goal in 13 senior international appearances.
Nigeria should have had a penalty towards the end of the first half when Chidozie Awaziem was kicked in the head in the Cape Verde box, but the referee awarded a corner kick instead.
The Super Eagles needed a bit of fortune to get the second and winning goal as Santos played a high ball over his goalkeeper’s head into the Cape Verde net in the 76th minute.
The hosts became desperate for the equaliser but the Super Eagles held firm to take control of African qualifying Group C.
Nigeria lead the group with six points, followed by Liberia with three. Cape Verde and Central African Republic have one point each.
The qualifiers will resume in October with Nigeria playing Central African Republic twice.
