Sixteen months after filing out for their first game in this Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying series, the Super Eagles are set for their last game and it is against the Crocodiles of Lesotho against whom they have a great head-to-head record.
Though the game is a dead rubber as the Super Eagles have long qualified for the showpiece event in Cameroon, there is so much fanfare around Tuesday’s tie as it marks the return of the national team to Lagos after a long while.
This is actually the Super Eagles’ first competitive game in Lagos in two decades and the expectation is that Gernot Rohr’s men will deliver goals to the fans.
In the reverse fixture between Nigeria and Lesotho, the Super Eagles won 4-2 and the firepower in the team should make it a double.
In the five games played in the qualifiers so far, the Super Eagles won three and drew twice.
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The kick-off time is 5.00 pm.
Nigeria Line Up…
Super Eagles XI Vs Lesotho: Francis Uzoho, Tyrone Ebuehi, Zaidu Sanusi, Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong (C), Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi
Reserves: John Noble, Ola Aina, Henry Onyekuru, Jamilu Collins, Shehu Abdullahi, Paul Onuachu, Chidozie Awaziem, Semi Ajayi, Ahmed Musa, Anayo Iwuala, Adekunle Adeleke
Uzoho starts for the first time since October 2019 as Iwobi returns
Nigeria’s goalkeeper to the last FIFA World Cup, Francis Uzoho makes his return to the Super Eagles starting 11 in the match against Lesotho.
Uzoho last featured for the Eagles in a friendly match against Brazil on October 13, 2019, where he suffered a knee injury that required key-hole surgery. He was out for more than a year but he made a competitive return in January 2021 for APOEL Nicosia in a Cypriot First Division game.
Gernot Rohr also named Alex Iwobi in the team that will face Lesotho in the dead-rubber Group L encounter. Henry Onyekuru, Maduka Okoye, Joe Aribo, and Ola Aina make way from the 11 that started against the Benin Republic last Saturday.
The Super Eagles are already qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations Cup [AFCON] scheduled for Cameroon in January 2022.
Starting 11
Francis Uzoho
Tyronne Ebuehi
Leon Balogun
William Troost-Ekong (C)
Zaidu Sanusi
Wilfred Ndidi
Samuel Chukwueze
Oghenekaro Etebo
Alex Iwobi
Kelechi Iheanacho
Victor Osimhen
The two teams are making their way into the pitch as we are set for action at the Teslim Balogun Stadium
The national anthems of both teams now being rendered with Lesotho first and then that of the Super Eagles of Nigeria
Lesotho XI:
Sekhoane Moerane 16
Thabang Malane 14
Bokang Sello 8
Nkau Lerothiloll 19
Basia Makepe 3
Mothlomelo Mkhwanazi 2
Thabo Lesaoana 12
Tsepo Toloane 4
Nkoto Masoabi 17
Ltseoe Marabe 15
Tumelo Khuklang 1
Here we go…. Kickoff at the Teslim Balogun!
Lesotho goalkeeper makes a diving punch as the Eagles threaten
Chukuweze with a low shot but not so threatening for the Lesotho keeper
Osimhen chests a ball just outside the box and shoots wide. Balogun then loses the ball on the edge of the Nigeria box and No.17 tries his luck from a distance but it is wide.
Etebo shoots just wide from outside the Lesotho box
Super Eagles dictating the pace of the game expectedly
Kelechi Iheanacho flagged for offside
The players take some water break as the game is temporarily halted for the Lesotho keeper to get quick treatment
Chukwueze dispossessed of the ball on the right flank
Poor cross by Osimhen disrupts a good run by the Super Eagles
Still Nigeria 0-0 Lesotho
Osimhen scores from a cute pass from Iheanacho but it was just offside. Osimhen was offside by millimetres from the video replays
Chukwueze skips past his marker but his cross is too short for Osimhen. It is all Eagles at this point.
Goooooaaaaallllll!!! What a move and what a pass from Iheanacho to Osimhen who nipped ahead of the Lesotho goalkeeper to lift over and into the net. Nigeria 1-0 Lesotho
Nigeria 1-0 Lesotho
Free kick for Lesotho but not much is made off it
Super Eagles concede another free-kick just outside the penalty box
Lesotho get their first corner kick of the game
From a set-piece outside the box, Uzoho made a save which No.3 rebounds into the net but the Lesotho player is adjudged offside.
Super Eagles concede another free-kick just outside the penalty box
Lesotho almost with an equaliser but their goal chalked off for offside
Ltseoe Marabe with a nice try for the Crocodiles
Still Nigeria 1-0 Lesotho
The Super Eagles win a free-kick of their own but Lesotho make good clerance
Leon Balogun with a good defensive display
Etebo commits a foul
We are at the dying stages of the game
Iheanacho misses a chance there for Nigeria
Just one minute added time
HT : Nigeria 1-0 Lesotho
The second half is officially underway at the Teslim Balogun Stadium
GOAL!!! Etebo makes it 2-0
Osimhen with a good pass and Etebo slots it perfectly
The Super Eagles come close with another goal but the effort of Ebuehi parried
Through pass to Osimhen but the Lesotho keeper does well to make a save
Double substitution as Paul Onuachu and Henry Onyekuru come in for Osimhen and Iwobi
Onuachu keeps scoring for Nigeria
Ahmed Musa and Anayo Iwuala replace Kelechi Iheanacho and Samuel Chukwueze. It’s the 96th international cap for Musa.
Nigeria 3-0 Lesotho
90 minutes played and the Super Eagles are cruising to victory
The Lesotho keeper has been substituted
FT Nigeria 3-0 Lesotho
Morale boosting win for the Super Eagles ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers which gets underway in May.
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