BREAKING: Nigeria’s Super Eagles beat Cape Verde in W/Cup qualifier
Nigeria’s Super Eagles claimed all three points in their second Group C 2022 World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde at the Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena, Mindelo, on Tuesday.
The three-time African champions went behind in the 20th minute when Cape Verde’s Dylan Tavares pounced on a lofted pass from midfield and beat the Nigerians’ offside trap and hit the ball past Maduka Okoye in goal.
Chidera Ejuke went close to restoring parity for the Eagles, but his shot was brilliantly parried away for a corner kick by Cape Verde goalie Vozinha in the 28th minute.
However, Victor Osimhen restored parity two minutes later as he finished from close range after Cape Verde goalkeeper failed to claw away the ball effectively after a defender inadvertently deflected a Jamilu Collins cross as the first half ended 1-1.
In the 56th minute, Osimhen presented a scoring chance for Ahmed Musa with an inviting cross, but the captain’s shot was tame and easily gathered by Vozinha.
With time running out, Kenny Santos came under pressure from Onyekuru as he executed a horrible back pass which beat goalkeeper Vozinha in the 77th minute to gift the Eagles the lead.
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In the 88th minute, Julio Tavares’s header almost beat Maduka Okoye in goal for Nigeria, the ball came off the foot of the post and rolled out for a goal kick.
Despite late pressure from Cape Verde, the Eagles held their own to claim an important away win to make it two win in a row in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The performance on the day see Nigeria lead Group C of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with six points, three more than Liberia, with Cape Verde and Central African Republic bring up the rear with a point each.