HOW EAGLES PLAYED IN CAPE VERDE WITH AMAZING OWN GOAL FROM SANTOS
The Super Eagles of Nigeria maintain lead in Group C after match day two in FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde in Mindelo on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory in a tricky encounter away. The Blue Sharks had gone ahead in the first half through Dylan Tavares quick run after getting a pass from his team-mate while Moses Simon looked ordinary chasing him. With the Nigeria goalkeeper wrongly positioned, Tavares thunder shot beat Maduka Okoye for the Blue Sharks to take a lead in the 19th minute.
The coach Gernot Rohr led Nigeria side tactically controlled the tempo of the match in better part of first half using the left wing, Jamiu Collins persistence runs and Chidera Ejuke combining beautifully in the left flank put pressure on the home side.
Chidera Ejuke who obviously realised the need for urgency had a shot in the 26th minute but the Blue Sharks goalkeeper parried the ball for corner. The Eagles pressure on the Islanders continued with Victor Osimhen steadily in the box of their opponent, in 29th minute he pounced on a mistake from the weak defense marking to equlise for Nigeria as Super Eagles supporters at the Stadium jubilated.
In the 42 minute the Eagles had a chance for a penalty when the captain of the Blue Sharks had his foot on Chidozie Awaziem’s head in the box. Obviously, a penalty as he had the foot- high- above the chest but the referee waved play on. The match was delayed for few minutes as Awaziem needed treatment.
In the second half Nigeria largely controlled the game with Kingsley Michael, Collins and Chidera Ejuke impressive in their combination. The Nigerian defense also had a check on their opponent with Awaziem playing a surprise role in the central defense, supporting the midfielders in building attack.
The Eagles took the lead with an amazing kick for an own goal scored by Cape Verde’s Rochas Santos almost from the half of the pitch to beat their goalkeeper. In an effort to save the ball by the Cape Verde’s goalkeeper his foot got clipped to the net.
Nigeria maintain the lead making some substitution with captain Ahmed Musa, Onyekuru introduced in the second half, it paid- off as the pressure from the Islanders was reduced with Onyekuru making good runs with the ball to reduce the pilled pressure on the Nigerian defense. Although, Cape Verde almost equalised in the 88th minute when Patrick Andrade flung himself at a long diagonal but Shehu Abdullahi was on ground to deny their opponent a goal.
The Nigerian team looking depleted from the right wing back and front right flank could not flourished as Simon Moses wasn’t impressive in the game as he struggled in right flank. Although, it could be attributed to absence of some defenders plying their trade in the UK that missed the match due to the unchanged stance of UK Authorities concerning protocols and guidelines that are to be observed by anyone returning to the country after visiting a country on the COVID-19 red label which Cape Verde is one.
However, that is not an excuse for the Nigeria coaching crew as a make-up could have been searched from the local based players from the talents that are bound in Nigeria Premier League.
Meanwhile, the Eagles got a scare in the twilight of the second half, the Blue Sharks couldn’t convert a corner kick which went wild off the post. The match ended as the Super Eagles secured six points in two matches in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier in Group C. The next match will be against the Central African Republic in October. Nigeria first participated at the FIFA World Cup in USA 1994 under coach Clement Westerholf and the Eagles was captained by late Stephen Keshi.
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