Nigeria's Super Eagles soar to victory in their second Group E match against Seychelles in a must-win encounter to keep their hope of featuring in next year African Cup of Nations alive.
Having lost their opening match to Bafana Bafana of South Africa at home in Uyo last year, the Eagles are condemn to victory. The match kick off on a flying note as Eagles have full control of possession in the early exchanges.
Seychelles had a glimpse of what was going to eventually hit them in the game in the 11mins as Samuel Kalu mesmerised their defence with a marvellous skill has he dribbled pass host of Seychellois defenders only to see his low cross put to safety by a recovering defender. The resultant corner kick by Hamed Musa was not dully converted as Ogenyi Onazi weakly play the ball off target. But that does not deter the Super Eagles as they came back stronger and more purposeful in their subsequent forward play.
An attack was initiated at the right flank, the Seychelles defender managed to clear the ball to a marginal distant, the ball fell to Eagles player, couple of passes was interchange, the ball went the path of Ahmed Musa who rocketed the ball across the crossbar to the net.
Booooommm... #MusaIsAGoal
It was a combination of precision, determination and composure as Musa hit the ball with his left foot. What a thunderous strike from the captain. The expression on the Seychelles goalkeeper was a combination of confusion and bemusement as he wonders how the ball managed to hit target.
Again, in 33mins, Eagles had a free-kick at the edge of the box. Typically, you expect the ball to be played above the wall to the net but Iheanacho, who must have had a good measure of the bulky Seychelles goalkeeper reflex place the ball beneath the wall. Again, the ball hits the up-right but Chidozie Awaziem was on hand to guide the rebound into the next.
The game was wrapped up after an hour mark when Odion Ighalo slot his spot kick as he sent the Seychelles goalkeeper to wrong direction.
Elsewhere, Super Eagles Group E compatriots South Africa and Libya share the spoil as the North African side secured a valuable point on road. The group is now open as Libya maintain their top spot albeit with goal difference with 4 point, same as South Africa while Nigeria, who will welcome Libya in the next round of matches sit 3rd with 3 points.
It's early to pre-empt which team is (not) going to finish top of the group, I think Nigeria qualifications lies in their ability to secure double victories when they play Libya, consolidate their win on Seychelles in the return leg which must have afford Eagles with 12points heading to the last round of the qualifying matches against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Johannesburg.
With the new breed of exciting young players in Super Eagles fold adding flavour, dept and stern competition it can only gets better as Gernot Rohr is now spoilt with choice in every department.
