THE Super Eagles paid a big price for their shoddy performance on Thursday with a shock 1-0 defeat to Central African Republic in Lagos on Thursday evening.
Karl Namnganda scored late to give the Central Africans their first win in African Group C of the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The visitors, ranked 114th in the world by FIFA to Nigeria’s 36th, defended resolutely and had the best chances of the match at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The Super Eagles hardly created any opportunities in a flat first half in which the Central African Republic held their more illustrious hosts off comfortably.
The second half was much more lively, with both sides having sniffs at goal.
Kelechi Iheanacho, who struggled through the first half with a knock, was replaced by debutant Taiwo Awoniyi at the beginning of the second half, and the Union Berlin striker was involved in the first chance for Nigeria.
Victor Osimhen hit the post with an audacious effort and Awoniyi could not find the right finish after Moses Simon squared the ball to him.
The game’s first real big chance then fell to Central African Republic when Namnganda was clean through on goal in the 66th minute, but Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho made a wonderful save with his foot.
One minute later Nigeria had their own big chance, but Napoli striker Osimhen headed narrowly wide from point-blank range off a cross from Torino defender Ola Aina.
Osimhen then fired over from inside the Central African Republic box before the big goal arrived to stun the 5,000 fans at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
One long ball caught the Super Eagles out but they still had two defenders on Namnganda.
However, he outwitted the Nigerian defenders and slipped the ball past Uzoho.
The goal was scored in the 90th minute, and despite five minutes of added time, the Super Eagles could not find the equaliser that would have made them avoid a thoroughly embarrassing defeat.
Despite the shock defeat, Nigeria still lead the group with six points, followed by Cape Verde ( whobestt Liberia away on Thursday) and Central African Republic with four points.
Liberia are bottom of the group with three points.
