Following Nigeria’s convincing 4-0 victory over African Champions, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, the dream of playing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia seems to be brighter.
But, the Eagles will have to survive a bigger challenge when they line up against the Lions in Yaoundé, September 4, in an encounter that will determine the faith of Nigeria playing at next year’s World Cup.
The Super Eagles are undefeated in 33 World Cup Qualifying matches, with their last defeat coming in June 2004 against Angola. Meanwhile, it’s the heaviest defeat the Indomitable Lions have encountered in World Cup qualifying.
Nigeria made it three wins from three in 2018 World Cup qualifying with a 4-0 thrashing of African champions Cameroon in Uyo.
Odion Ighalo, John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho were all on target for Nigeria in their victory.
The win means the Super Eagles top Group B on 9 points while Cameroon have just 2 points after three matches.
Zambia and Algeria both have a point each and they play their third match against each other on Saturday in Lusaka.
Nigeria took the lead on 29 minutes when Ighalo latched onto a ball over the top from captain John Mikel Obi and slotted home.
Ighalo was then booked for revealing a t-shirt in support of his international colleague Carl Ikeme who has leukaemia.
Just before half time a corner from Moses was turned in by his former Chelsea teammate Mikel Obi as he slid in and put the ball into the roof of the net.
Moses scored the third in the 55th minute after an exchange of passes with Moses Simon.
The rout was completed when Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho stooped to head home a cross from Ogenyi Onazi with 14 minutes left to play.
It was the first victory for the Super Eagles after they suffered a home defeated to South Africa in the 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo.
The man of the match was unarguably Ikechukwu Ezenwa, a home based player with the Ifeanyi Ubah FC who proved his mettle and won the confidence of fans.
Ezenwa is making his debut for the senior national team though had played at the junior level and had won the heart of fans as he kept a clean sheet.
The Super Eagles appeared more coherent and coordinated though the Indomitable Lions had dominated the match in the opening minutes.
The Super Eagles technical adviser had given assurance in a pre match press conference that the Super Eagles would win the match since according to him GE has a good team.
Anthony Nlebem & ANIEFIOK UDONQUAk, Uyo
@AnthonyNlebem
