Nigeria picked all three points in a hard
–fought 2-1 win over Benin Republic as the group phase of the qualifying
campaign for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations began on Wednesday.
The Squirrels shocked the modest crowd at the
Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo in south-south Nigeria as Stephane Sessegnon
swept home after only two minutes, following Jodel Dossou’s brilliant run from
the flank that left Jamilu Collins in no man’s land.
Two minutes later, Benin Republic came knocking
again and would have made it two from a corner kick if not for some spirited
defending as goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi was again exposed.
From then, it was Nigeria all the way, with
goalkeeper Fabon Famolle having to stretch full length to parry Ola Aina’s low
drive in the 13th minute, and then saving from Victor Osimhen four
minutes later.
Samuel Kalu’s 22 –yard free kick was way above
the bar on the half hour, and four minutes from recess, Samuel Chukwueze saw
his smart shot from a brilliant team move clip the crossbar with Famolle rooted
to one spot.
A minute later, Kalu could not get to the ball to connect
Osimhen’s pull-out, but in the 45th minute, roving Ola Aina was
upended in the visitors’ box in another raid by Nigeria and Senegalese referee
Issa Sy had no choice than to give a penalty, which Osimhen tucked away for the
equalizer.
In the second period, the Eagles were even more
business-like, as Alex Iwobi, Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and Wilfred Ndidi tightened
the midfield and gave good support for Chukwueze and Kalu to bear down on the
opposition from the wings.
In the 47th minute, a snap shot by
Iwobi sailed narrowly over the bar; Famolle had to parry fierce shots from
Aribo and Osimhen and; in the 62nd minute, Samuel Kalu danced his
way past a sea of legs and drove the ball low and fast beyond the groping hands
of Famolle for Nigeria’s second goal.
Four minutes later, Famolle had to be alert to
tip over the bar another stinging shot from Kalu and then saved from the same
player in the 71st minute as Nigeria launched onslaught after
onslaught.
However, the Squirrels could have been level in
the 73rd minute but Dossou rocked the crossbar from a fast break. Two
minutes later, Semi Ajayi came close as he connected a free kick by Kalu.
Substitute Moses Simon nearly made it three
with a fierce shot in the 80th minute that Famolle was lucky to
parry away, but the Squirrels also had a chance to equalize, only for William
Ekong to intervene decisively just as the trigger was about to be pulled in
added time.
Victory took Nigeria top of their qualifying
group, with Sierra Leone and Lesotho ending their encounter in Freetown 1-1 to
share the spoils.
Next up for the Super Eagles is a clash with Likuena
(Crocodiles) of Lesotho in Day 2 of the qualifying campaign, at the
Maseru-Setsoto Stadium on Sunday, 17th November.
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