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The Super Eagles kick-started their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on a brilliant note when the team overcame the Lone Star of Liberia 2-0 on Friday September 3, 2021 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s brace was all Nigeria needed to pick up the maximum points and top the Group C ahead of Central Africa Republic and Cape Verde.
In this piece, Completesports.com‘s Augustine Akhilomen x-rays the five talking points that made the encounter exciting.
Iheanacho Got His Goal-scoring Mojo For Eagles Back
Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, was at his best as he grabbed the headlines with his sublime goals against Liberia. The former Golden Eaglets star was always at the right spot in the 18-yard box and could have scored more than the two goals.
Iheanacho put the Eagles ahead on 22 minutes with a sizzling drive from the edge of the penalty area following a short corner kick and quick interchange of passes with Alex Iwobi. The former Arsenal star was also the provider for Iheanacho’s second in the 44th minute of the game.
Read Also: 2022 WCQ: Win vs Liberia Perfect Way To Start Qualifiers – Okoye
Iwobi Shines At Last
The victory against Liberia could well be attributed to Alex Iwobi’s ability to provide the two assists that saw Iheanacho bag a brace. The Everton midfielder did not put any foot wrong forward as he was quick with his play and pushed the Super Eagles attack with some sense of urgency.
Sadly, he will not be available for the game against Cape Verde as the country was listed among the red zone countries for Covid-19.
Timely Substitutions By Rohr
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has proven that he’s a man that listens to football loving Nigerians as he made two timely substitutions against the Lone Star of Liberia despite the team leading 2-0. The German tactician who is used to making late substitutions in previous games, brought in Samuel Kalu and Paul Onuachu to replace the duo of Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon in the second half.
Liberia Down, Up Next Cape Verde
Having secured the three points at home with the win against Liberia to move top of Group C, the Super Eagles will be hoping to get the job done, 100 percent in the current international window, by securing another maximum points when the team battle home side, Cape Verde, at the Municipal Aderito Seno, Mindelo on Tuesday, September 7. A victory for Nigeria will put the team in a comfortable position to pick the top spot.
Lack of Creativity In The Midfield
Despite the Super Eagles 2-0 win over Liberia, it is quite obvious that the team still lacks creativity in the midfield. Unlike in the days of the Super Eagles when Austine Okocha always piloted the affairs of the midfield and supplied those killer passes to the strikers. Rohr and his crew must proffer solution to this problem going forward.
Poor Pitch Of Teslim Balogun Stadium
Few hours to the kick off yesterday, the heavens opened as a heavy down poor rocked the Lagos metropolis. While the rain persisted for hours, fears mounted that the match could be postponed as the pitch was already water logged.
2 Comments
Up ALEXANDER THE KING IWOBI. Never for once doubted this patriot’s abilities despite a temporary low moment which is very inevitable in anyone’s career. Truly happy God has granted you much more expanded Grace to get that mojo back. God bless to THE COACHING CREW LEAD BY GERNOT ROHR, GOD BLESS ALEXANDER IWOBI, GOD BLESS LEON BALOGUN THE GENERAL, TROOST EKONG AKA CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, ARIBALL BOBOYEN, MTM OLA AINA, NACHO, UMMMH MIDFIELD WARLORD NDIDI, CAN GO ON AND ON. YOU GUYS ARE ALL WONDERFUL PATRIOTS. MANY MANY THANKS FOR BRING JOY TO NIGERIANS DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES. TRULY APPRECIATE.
Liberians are complaining they were poorly received and badly treated in Nigeria. I hope the NFF has not forgotten that there’d be a return fixture and the opportunity for retaliation