BREAKING: Super Eagles thrash Lesotho’s Crocodiles in final AFCONQ
Nigeria’s Super Eagles thrashed Lesotho’s Crocodiles 3-0 in their final Group L match in the 2022 AFCON Qualifiers at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, on Tuesday evening.
The Eagles goals came from the trio of Victor Osimhen, Ogenekaro Etebo and Paul Onuachu.
The three-time African champions were already guaranteed to finish top of Group L before the match, but the result adds to their dominance and underlines their status as one of the teams to watch heading into Cameroon 2022.
#SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/qT9ayvT8j5
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 30, 2021
The identity of the group’s other qualifier remains unknown for now, with the crunch match between Sierra Leone and Benin – which should have kicked off simultaneously in Freetown – delayed due to a Covid-19 wrangle.
Nigeria bossed the game from early on, but had to wait until the 23rd minute to claim the lead. Striker Victor Osimhen ran onto a ball over the top of the defence from Kelechi Iheanacho and lobbed it past goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane from a tight angle.
If the Super Eagles thought that strike would open the floodgates, they were mistaken, with Likuena able to close up shop in defence and ensure that they kept the deficit to just one goal up to the halftime interval.
The second half saw Nigeria once again start strongly, and five minutes after the restart they added a second goal, with Oghenekaro Etebo finishing off an assist from Osimhen.
FT: Dominant Nigeria ambles past sorry Lesotho 3-0 at Teslim Balogun Stadium with MVP Osimhen, Etebo and Onuachu putting themselves on the score sheet. The emphatic win was the Super Eagles' first game in Lagos in over 20 years! #NGALES pic.twitter.com/zDrqqYAUs0
— Valiant Samson Idowu-Alaba (@ValiantNig) March 30, 2021
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Lesotho soon responded by introducing Sera Motebang and Lehlohonolo Fothoane, while the Super Eagles were able to bring Paul Onuachu and Henry Onyekuru off their bench in an effort to add to their advantage.
And Onuachu – who scored the late winner away to Benin this past weekend – netted a second in as many matches when he turned home an assist from Onyekuru in the 83rd minute, wrapping up an emphatic victory for the 2013 African champions.