Former African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen once again wielded his influence on the African continent after his first half double fired Nigeria to a 0-2 win away to Rwanda in a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday evening, www.aclsports.com reports.
Osimhen was featuring for the first time in the series after having missed Nigeria’s first four games due to injury, the Super Eagles failing to win any of the games, as a consequence.
All that changed though at the packed Amahoro Stadium with Osimhen scoring in the 11th and 45th minute to restore Nigeria’s fading hopes of returning among the world’s footballing elites at next year’s Mundial.
New Nigeria coach Eric Chelle named an attacking team for the battle against the hitherto table-toppers with the quartet of Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon and reigning African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman all named in the starting eleven.
It was the latter that set-up Osimhen and Nigeria’s first after ten minutes when the Galatasaray man freed himself from his marker to volley home Lookman’s deep free kick at the far post beyond Rwanda goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari.
Ntwari would however keep the scoreline at 1-0 in the 26th minute when he produced a superb fingertip save to deny Simon after good work from Osimhen and Lookman. It was the shot stopper that practically won his side a point when both sides met last September, making an incredible nine saves to stop the Nigerians.
He could however do nothing to prevent Osimhen’s second in first half stoppage time. The striker latched onto Chukwueze’s flicked header, beat Thierry Manzi to the 50-50 ball before racing through goal and finishing with aplomb, over Ntwari.
Nigeria’s full backs Ola Aina and Brighr Osayi-Samuel were replaced in the second half with real signs of exhaustion with Belgium based striker Tolu Arokodare also handed his debut fifteen minutes from time, replacing an accomplished Osimhen who received an ovation from the fans regardless.
Nigeria have now moved one place to fourth on the Group C log with six points, overtaking Lesotho who went down 0-2 to group leaders South Africa also on Friday evening.
The Super Eagles are expected back home on Saturday to start preparations ahead of their next game against which will be against the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Tuesday.
Nigeria XI vs Rwanda
Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel (Alhassan Yusuf 77’), William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina (Bruno Onyemaechi 77’); Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze (Raphael Onyedika 67’), Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen (Tolu Arokodare 77’)
Alex Iwobi
