The Super Eagles’ World Cup qualification got back on track Friday evening in Kigali after a 2-0 defeat of hosts, Rwanda.
Great thanks to Victor Osimhen whose brace in the first half earned Nigeria a first World Cup qualification win since 13 November 2021 when they beat Liberia 2-0 in Tangier, Morocco. are facing a huge battle to qualify for next summer’s World Cup.
It was Osimhen’s first match in the World Cup qualifications series that has entered match-day 5.
Nigeria entered the match under serious pressure and sat precariously fifth in a log of six teams.
The fact that they had not won any match in the series and had also not beaten Rwanda in Rwanda also added to the pressure.
The 2-0 win and also the loss by Lesotho to South Africa has lifted the Super Eagles to the fourth position and a shouting distance to the three front-runners – South Africa, Benin and Rwanda.
Another win on Tuesday against bottom-placed Zimbabwe could lift them to the second position depending on the outcome of the duels of Rwanda versus Lesotho and Benin – South Africa.
Chelle named a strong starting XI, featuring many players with Premier League experience.
Ola Aina lined up at left-back, Alex Iwobi partnered Wilfred Ndidi in midfield and Calvin Bassey continued his partnership with captain, and former Watford star William Troost-Ekong in central defence.
Nigeria’s quest got on course from an Ademola Lookman’s free-kick.
Osimhen peeled away to the back post, gambling on the delivery being inch-perfect, and made no mistake from close range to open his account in World Cup qualification.
Almost at the stroke of half-time, Osimhen doubled the lead as he pinched the ball ahead of his marker, and raced through before producing a lovely, dinked finish over Ntwari to leave the hosts with a huge mountain to climb in the second half
