Iwobi And Iheanacho On Target As Nigeria Edge Zambia In World Cup Qualifier

Posted by Jay




The Super Eagles of Nigeria got their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers off to a superb start with a 2-1 win over Zambia Sunday.

At a packed Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola with President Edgar Lungu in attendance, the Eagles soared high with first-half goals from Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho to take early charge of a tough Group B that also has Algeria and Cameroon who play later tonight.

Eagles coach Gernot Rohr made five changes to the team that edged Tanzania in last month’s Afcon qualification dead-rubber, with Iwobi, Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi, Kenneth Omeruo and Brown Ideye coming in to the starting 11, and they took their time warming up as the hosts took the early initiative.

Tembo Fwayo clipped the top of the bar with a dipping cross that deceived Carl Ikeme in goal for Nigeria three minutes in, while big striker Collins Mbesuma caused all sorts of trouble for the Eagles backline.
Iwobi opened the scoring for Rohr’s men
Then Nigeria got a sight at goal on 15 minutes when Ideye was played through by Iwobi only for the Olympiakos man to lob wide with the linesman flag sparing his blushes.

Iwobi, on a rich vein of form for Premier League side Arsenal, broke the deadlock on 33 minutes with a half-volley from the edge of the box after the ball fell kindly for him.

Nigeria continued to dominate play and doubled their lead 10 minutes later after Kelechi Iheanacho rounded off a slick move with a calm finish from an acute angle.

Wedson Nyirenda’s men came back stronger in the second-half, with Ikeme pulling off a number of great saves to deny Mbesuma, Rainford Kalaba and Jackson Mwanza to maintain the Eagles two-goal advantage.

However, Omeruo switched off on the 70th minute to allow Mbesuma fire in a low shot past Ikeme, bringing the stadium to a hair-raising finale.

But Nigeria held on for the precious three points ahead of next month’s game against Algeria.






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