BEVERLY HILLS, September 09, (THEWILL) – The Super Eagles recorded a resounding 3-0 victory over Seychelles on Saturday in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
The Super Eagles who lost their opening game of the qualifiers against South Africa 15 months ago, needed victory on Saturday to get back on track in their quest to make it to AFCON 2019.
The Coach Gernot Rohr’s side started brightly against Seychelles and they did not have to wait for too long as captain Ahmed Musa continued from where he stopped from the World Cup in Russia; giving Nigeria the lead in the 15th minute.
Musa fired in a sumptuous cross from just outside Seychelles’ box that hit the crossbar and bounced off the towering keeper, Dave Mussard, back into the net.
The second goal did come for Nigeria and Kelechi Iheanacho had a hand in it as he played a well-placed free kick that was parried by the keeper but was calmly tucked in by defender Chidozie Awaziem in the 34th.
The Super Eagles took a 2-0 lead to the break and when they came for the second half, they added one more.
Samuel Kalu one of the debutants for Nigeria in Saturday’s game won a penalty kick for Nigeria 12 minutes after the restart and Odion Ighalo converted the resultant kick to make it 3-0 for the Super Eagles.
Seychelles went close to reducing the tally late on in the game as Perry Monnaie beat goalkeeper Francis Uzoho to the ball but sent it wide off the target.
Seychelles XI: Dave Mussard, Jones Joubert, Bertrand Esther, Benoit Marie, Jude Nancy, Warren Mellie, Carl, Colin Esther, Darren Pamod, Nelson Laurence, Perry Monnaie
Subs: Jerome Dingwall, Elijah Tamboo, Gervais Waye-Hive, Kiren Sinon, Colyn Francourt, Juninho Mathiot, Colin Bibi
Nigeria XI: Francis Uzoho, Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun, Chidozie Awaziem, Brian Idowu, Ogenyi Onazi, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa, Samuel Kalu, Odion Ighalo
Subs: Ikechukwu Ezenwa, John Ogu, Oghenekaro Etebo, Simeon Nwankwo, Semi Ajayi, Joel Obi, Henry Onyekuru.
