Eagles advance to final stage of World Cup qualifiers after unconvincing draw with Cape Verde in Lagos

NIGERIA has qualified for the final knock stage of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers after the Super Eagles managed to top their qualification group with a 1-1 draw with the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos tonight.

In what was a far from convincing performance, the Eagles managed to grab the needed point from the game to enable them top their group  and advance to the next round of the competition. Nigeria emerged top of Group C with 13 points and will now advance into the final knock-out round to determine who  goes to Qatar 2022.

Under the Confederation of African Football qualification arrangements, the 10 group winners advance to the final phase of the competition, where they will now be engaged in a two-legged final round. After the two legs, the five teams that emerge winners of the ties will represent the continent at the World Cup, with all the big guns expected to be in the mix.

Nigeria took the lead in the first minute through Victor Osimhen, who capitalised on a mix-up in the Cape Verde defence to sidefoot home the opener. However, within four minutes, the Eagles has surrendered their lead as they needlessly conceded a corner and stood around as Cape Verde defender Dos Santos Tavares prodded home from close range.

From then on, Nigeria has the better of the possession and chances but were unable to convert any of the chances they created. Veteran goalkeeper keeper Vozinha made several point blank saves in the first half to deny the Eagles, on one occasion, clawing an Aribo effort off the line with super human acrobatics.

Cape Verde managed to hold on to the 1-1 scoreline at the break despite Nigeria barraging their goal, with Osimhen in particular in fine form.  Upon the resumption, the Eagles were less aggressive and the games was less one-sided, so it just fizzled out into a draw with Nigeria never under any real threat of losing the match.

Line-up - 3-5-2:

Okoye

Simon (Abdullahi)

Collins

Awaziem

Ekong

Balogun

Ndidi

Aribo (Onyeka)

Iwobi

Osimhen (Onuachu)

Ighalo (Iheanacho)