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Nigeria’s Olympic team qualified for the final round of the 2019 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after edging Libya 4-2 on aggregate, with Victor Osimhen netting a hat-trick in their 4-0 win in Asaba, Completesport.com reports.
The Nigerian side led by Imama Amapakabo last Wednesday lost 2-0 in the first leg at the Bengerdan Stadium Tunisia, but fought back in the second leg to win 4-0 and qualify for the group stages of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
Osimhen scored a hat-trick and provided an assist for David Okereke to seal the win for Nigeria’s Olympic team.
The Imama Amakpakabo’s side started the match brightly offensively and made the first attempt on goal in the fifth minute when Kelechi Nwakali’s effort went inches wide of the upright.
Osimhen came close in the ninth minute but his shot on goal was saved by the goalkeeper. Awoniyi was next to try his luck on goal but his shot from close range failed to hit the target.
In the 18th minute, Nwakali came close again, this time hitting the crossbar from a free-kick.
Sporting Charleroi striker, Osimhen broke the deadlock for Nigeria in his second attempt on target firing in a loose ball from inside the Libyan box off a Samuel Chukwueze free-kick.
In the second half, the 20-year-old doubled his side’s lead in the 67th minute when he pounced on a loose ball from the goalkeeper.
The former U-17 and U-20 striker completed his hattrick eight minutes from time when he finished off a delightful pass from Nwakali to send the Asaba fans into jubilation.
In additional time Samuel Chukwueze missed a sitter to make it 4-0 for Nigeria when he failed to tuck in Osimhen’s through ball. However Spezia striker Okereke was on hand to tap in Osimhen’s backheel to complete the routing of Libya.
By Johnny Edward
10 Comments
Well played boys. Proud to be a Nigerian
You guys did it when it matters most. Congratulations
This is emphatic victory for Nigeria. The future of Super Eagles is bright. Up Naija!
Where are the doubter? I knew we gonna spank the Libyans.
We beat, bruised, mauled, hammered and annihilated them.
Next time if we meet them in a first leg match in their home, they would be afraid to score against us because of the fear of our retaliation in the 2nd leg.
We needed 3 goals but we scored 4 and were going for the 5th when the referee decided it was enough.
Special thanks to coach Rohr for cooperating with the U23 coach.
Nigeria I hail o!
Osimehn should be given more chance in SE. I saw flashes of his brilliance against Uganda. Far more skillful than Ighalo and possesses superior predatory instinct. Genot Rohr should work on building Osimhen and Chukwueze into a formidable partnership. I love the report I got on Ozorwafor-Awaziem partnership. These are fantastic possibilities, which could help the SE in the long run. No doubt, Nigeria reeks with talents.
There is a king of anger boiling in the heart of our Esan strikers of Edo State against the Libyan National Team
.Odion Ighalo,an Esan Man from Edo state scored a hatrick to Eliminate Libya from the CAF Nations Cup.Victor Oseihmen ,also an Esan Man,from Edo state followed up the anger against the libyans to score another hattrick,to eliminate the libyan u23 from the olympic nations cup qualificatio tornament.it as a sweet victory from our lads. i see the future of the super Eagles is bright
l love Edo boys. Libya may never forget the Edo Boys of Nigeria too soon. Ha,!! ha !!!
Heap, heap, hurray.
Yes, Edo boys don show Libya pepper. But there is a yoruba connection as well. Libya rhymes with “iya”, the yoruba word for suffering. Nigeria fi iya je Libya. Libya jiya. Iya ti je Libya. Honestly, if Libya see Nigeria coming in the near future, na run dem go dey run. Which kain wahala be dis? Won fe na wa pa ni? At least, Libyans can be happy that the iya has come to an end for now, until we meet again!
The main coach of our senior eagles – Coach Genot Rohr is the winner of this game. He played the role expected of him by the country’s football. Finally, we all won the game – Super Nigeria.