In-form striker Tolu Arokodare came off the bench to score a brace in Super Eagles’ 3-1 win over the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in their 2027 AFCON qualifier on Friday night, reports www.aclsports.com.
After Yusuf Alhassan’s early goal was cancelled out by Alphonce Mabuma, Arokodare scored twice after coming on to steer the Eagles to a much-needed win at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Following the defeat against Bissau, Eric Chelle made several changes to his starting XI, with the likes of Tochukwu Nnadi, Abdullahi Bewene, and Yusuf Alhassan all handed a starting berth in the must-win encounter. Just two minutes in, Alhassan finished off a fine pass from Ademola Lookman to put the Eagles in front.
However, Nigeria were pegged back just two minutes after the half-hour mark after a slip in midfield allowed Mabuma Msanga to level the scores for the Taifa Stars.
Arokodare, who joined the fray at the beginning of the second period, scored with a smooth back-flick in the 52nd minute from a pass by captain Wilfred Ndidi, as Nigeria again broke forward.
Eight minutes later, it was 3-1, with Ajax Amsterdam forward Arokodare slotting past the visiting goalkeeper easily after a Tanzanian defender missed a pull-out from the left by another substitute, Moses Usor. The latter, who scored the winner against Madagascar back in September, continued to impress on the wings.
Meanwhile, Arokodare could have grabbed a hat-trick later on, but the visiting goalkeeper read his move well from a one-on-one. However, the Super Eagles were not to be denied their second win in three matches in the group.
Consequently, Nigeria moved up to six points – one point behind Guinea-Bissau, who drew 1-1 with Madagascar in the other group’s game. Nigeria will now head to Zanzibar for the return leg against Tanzania on Tuesday, while Guinea-Bissau will host Madagascar in the other group game.
