Inform Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo netted a brace to save
Nigeria’s blushes in their 3-2 win over Libya in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
(AFCON) on Tuesday, October 16.
Ighalo scored his first of the night in the 14th minute before
turning provider as Ahmed Musa doubled Nigeria’s lead.
The Libyans were not ready to go down easy and pulled one goal
back just before the halftime though Mohamed Zubya.
They looked spurred to go on and win it after Ahmed Benali equalised
in the 74th minute but Ighalo completed his brace in the 81st minute to get all
the three points for the Super Eagles.
Ighalo’s goal ensured that the Super Eagles are now top of Group E
of the AFCON 2019 qualifiers.
Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr made just one change, forced by an
injury to Shehu Abdullahi in the first half of their 4-0 win over Libya just
three days ago in Uyo.
Ola Aina came on for Abdullahi with Rohr retaining the rest of his
starting XI from that game in Uyo for the clash at the Stade Taïeb Mhiri in
Sfax in Tunisia.
Playing away from home due to the unrest in their country, the
Mediterranean Knights started the game brightly but it was the Super Eagles who
got the first chance of the game but Samuel Kalu could not put enough effort on
his cross which was well dealt with.
In the 14th minute, however, Ighalo gave the Super Eagles the lead
with a tap-in after a one-two between Musa and Alex Iwobi has split the Libyan
defence.
Three minutes later, Ighalo turned provider, running at the Libyan
defence after picking up a pass on a counter and squaring for Musa who beat three
men before finding the net.
The Super Eagles took control of the game with a couple of passes
but Libya recovered to ask some questions of the Super Eagles defence.
In the 35th minute Zubya
pulled one back for Libya with a far-post header which beat Nigerian goalkeeper
Francis Uzoho.
The Libyans still came at the Super Eagles who were more than happy
to hear the halftime hustle.
The Libyans were rampant at the restart, coming at the Super
Eagles at every foray forward. In the 74th minute, they got their equaliser
through Benali who was on the end of a good move inside the Super Eagles box.
The
game was settling for a draw before the 81st minute when Ighalo beat two
defenders by feigning a right-foot shot before driving into the box to finish
with his left.
