The Super Eagles of Nigeria came from a goal down to beat Cape Verde 2-1 to make it two wins out of two in Group C of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Estadio Municipal Aderito Sena, in Mindelo on Tuesday.
A Victor Osimhen equalizer and an own goal from Kenny Rocha, secured the hard fought win for the Eagles.
With the win, the Eagles now go six points and three points ahead of second placed Liberia.
Gernot Rohr had to make a lot of changes in his starting eleven due to the absence of most of the regulars with the likes of Kenneth Omeruo, Ahmed Musa, Chidozie Awaziem, Innocent Bonke, Kingsley Michael and Chidera Ejuke all starting.
Also, the game saw Musa make his 100th appearance for the Super Eagles, joining Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama to reach the figure.
The Eagles will be in action again in the qualifiers in October when they will face Central African Republic in a double header.
Musa had the first chance of the game in the 6th minute from a Shehu Abdullahi low cross but he blazed his effort.
The home team then took the lead on 18 minutes against the run of play as Dylan Tavares got to a long cross before hitting a left-foot strike which beat Maduka Okoye at his near post.
In the 27th minute Ejuke almost drew the Eagles level with a curler but the home team keeper Vozinha palmed over the bar.
The Eagles eventually equalized on 30 minutes after Osimhen pounced on a rebound, following a poor clearance by Kelvin Pires who directed Jamilu Collins’ cross toward goal.
With three minutes left in the first half Ejuke tried to aim his curler into the top corner but Vozinha punched away for a corner.
The Eagles first chance on goal fell to Musa in the 57th minute after good cross from Osimhen but his weak shot failed to trouble Cape Verde keeper.
On 67 minutes a long ball from Collins to Ejuke saw the CSKA Moscow bearing down on goal before the assistant referee raised his flag for offside.
With 19 minutes left the Eagles made a double change with Henry Onyekuru and Terem Moffi replacing Musa and Simon.
Onyekuru almost marked his introduction with a goal a minute later off a counter but his left strike was saved.
In the 76th minute the Eagles were gifted the second goal after Kenny Rocha intended back pass went over his keeper and over the line.
With eight minutes left Zaidu Sanusi and Paul Onuachu went in for Osimhen and Ejuke.
Vagner Diaz almost equalized for the host on 88 minutes after connecting with a diving header from a long cross which went inches off target.
MATCH STATS
Cape Verde 1 – 2 Nigeria
Scorers: Cape Verde – Dylan Tavares (18′) Nigeria – Victor Osimhen (30′), Kenny Rocha (own goal,76′)
Lineups
CAPE VERDE
Vozinha – Roberto Lopes, Carlos Ponck, Patrick Andrade (Marco Soares,77′), Jamiro Monteiro (Julio Tavares, 77′), Garry Rodrigues( Vagner Dias, 59′) , Kelvin Pires (Vasco Lopes, 83′), Dylan Tavares, Kenny Rocha, Ryan Mendes -Capt (Steve Furtado, 84′)
Unused Subs:
Marcio da Rosa (Gk), Dylan Silva (Gk), Henrique Brito, Kevin Pina,
, Lorenzo Fonseca, Willis Furtado, Claudio Tavares,
Telmo Arcanjo
Coach: Bubista
NIGERIA
Maduka Okoye – Jamilu Collins, Shehu Abdullahi, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Bonke, Michael, Ejuke (Zaidu Sanusi, 83′), Moses Simon (Terem Moffi,72′) , Ahmed Musa #capt.(Henry Onyekuru, 72′), Victor Osimhen (Paul Onuachu, 83′).
Unused Subs:
Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi, Valentine Ozornwafor,, Adekunle Adeleke.
Coach: Gernot Rohr