A hat-trick from Victor Osimhen and a goal each from Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi and Samuel Chukwueze saw the Super Eagles thrash São Tomé and Principe 6-0, in their final Group A game of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
The Eagles finished the qualifiers top of the group with 15 points from six games.
The game saw Victor Boniface and Bruno Onyemaechi make their debut for the Eagles with the former marking it with an assist.
Osimhen opened scoring for the Eagles on 13 minutes as he rose highest to head home a corner from Lookman.
In the 27th minute Lookman made it 2-0 as he received a pass from Wilfred Ndidi, cut inside from the left and drilled a low shot past the São Tomé keeper.
Also read: Sports Minister Enoh Thumbs Up Super Eagles’ Win Vs Sao Tome In Uyo, Wants AFCON Title
Awoniyi then made it 3-0 in the 51st minute with a brilliant strike. The Nottingham Forest forward received a floated pass from Kelechi Iheanacho with his chest and volleyed into the net.
Osimhen got his second goal from the penalty spot on 69 minutes to put the Eagles 4-0 ahead after being fouled inside the box by São Tomé keeper.
Ten minutes later Osimhen completed his hat-trick to make it 5-0 as he collected a through pass from Chukwueze before slotting into the net.
With six minutes left Chukwueze also got on the score sheet to make it 6-0 thanks to an assist from Boniface.
17 Comments
Well some Nigeria! See u in Ivory Coast but ghana wants Nigeria in our group! Nigeria has to revenge themselves! Wishing Nigeria nothing but the best
Thanks @selfmade but take note most teams that will play us on our way to lifting the cup for the 4th time will defend with 11 men behind the ball including our noisy neighbor Ghana. This is not business as usual, the midfield you guys always make noise about are back to form. Ndidi is back with him, iwobi and Onyeka we are good to go. Osimhen and his partners in crime upfront will not show mercy to any team including your average team Ghana. Let the countdown begin.
Boniface Osigoal is a welcome combo according to my observation.
Was that a PENALTY?
Your General Roar will be watching us on TV during the AFCON since his team will not be there. He he he…
Don’t be completely sure bro. CAF will APPOINT GENERAL ROAR into their TECHNICAL TEAM just like the ROLE FIFA gave OLISEH at last year’s wc..
Now that’s some bigger job that comes with a heavy pay cheque..lol..
We just need to get our attackers available and fit in January. If Osimhen, Awoniyi, Chukwueze, Iheanacho, Boniface, Lookman and Orban are all available for selection in January Peseiro will have a massive headache in his final squad.
Boniface can be a viable option in the AM position. I like silky players who can always get past his markers one on one even in tight situations. Ndidi and Onyeka also did well, good job combining in midfield to dictate play.
Our defenders are playing regularly in decent leagues and clubs. We have more options in that department. SuperEagles will definitely be a contender in Ivory Coast. I heard Orban got a knock in training that’s why he wasn’t able to play. I hope Iwobis return will help the midfield to be more creative.
My only position of concern is the goalkeeping department. I hope Nigeria can get a rock between the sticks that can save us in crucial situations. SuperFalcons wouldn’t have gone that far at the WorldCup without Chiamaka.
We will definitely play some ball in Ivory Coast I just hope we get the necessary lucks to clinch the Trophy. A top goalkeeper is absolutely crucial because of course we will score goals. We also have important WorldCup qualifiers starting in November. I must also commend the fantastic pitch at the Nest of champions. FLY LIKE AN EAGLE INTO THE FUTURE. I’m already counting down to Côte d’Ivoire.
I think Nndidi and Ihaneacho have both been humbled by the fact that they are now playing in a less fancy championship. This is good because they both know if they fail to perform they can easily be snubbed. Then lookman to me can play as a supporting striker or attacking midfielder instead of deploying him to the flank. We need this guy Tella he can operate as a winger . Peseiro to me has courage for him to keep our little Moses Simon on bench ,this is where he differs from the previous coach. That guy playing for Brentford has really got power and pace I just hope he will have confidence in his ability.
This Orban wey we no cap today ehn.
Anyway, no wahala. Another day hopefully.
Sao Tome are not that bad. They held Sierra Leone to a 2-2- draw in Freetown earlier this year. They did lose heavily away to Guinea Bissau, but at home, they lost narrowly by just a goal. So they are not as bad as the scoreline suggests. There is something about this Nigeria team that overwhelms them. Maybe they are intimidated by the Nigeria name, or by our big players. They don’t collapse like these against other teams.
This game shows without a doubt that Iheanacho is a right winger. That is his best position. Peseiro did well to recognize this. With him and Chuks, we are ok in that department. Good all round performance from the rest of the team. Osimhen red hot as usual. Awoniyi’s goal was a beauty. Lovely chest control and acrobatic finish.
The pitch looked nice! Happy to be able to say that for once. Let’s keep it up.
Hopefully, all outstanding coach salaries and player bonuses will be settled immediately. No arrears please.
I think this squad can achieve something good if NFF do their part.
…if NFF does their part indeed. In this era of amassing dollars in such “privileged” position as top brass in NFF, they will never be that selfless to clear all outstanding debts. Never. Gusau met debt. He would leave more debts. Players called up for national duty sometimes need “international experience” to make certain club transfer and you can bet the NFF crooks know that to whip the team into line
I have to say I really enjoyed Iheanacho’s game today. The intelligent give and go passes! My o my! Instead of trying to dribble past defenders, he uses simple passes to get the job done. Delightful football.
Wonderfull performance for a costless game like this. I like what i saw today, ndidi has raisen his game, onyeka is indeed a tank, he will be usefull at the afcon in that midfield, iheanacho have finally found his position in right wing which i have always advocated for him in my previous comments in this forum, he offered more than chukueze who most times plays like a blind dog, chuks will be usefull as a substitute for seniorman in afcon proper, chukueze will bring his speed when difenders are already overwelmed by seniormans tricks, suberb ball sence fróm iheanacho, bringing back the old under 17 display, the defenders where decent as well, i expected pesero to cap tonarigha in this game, i dont understand why he left him out of this game, the young man should have been caped today, the both gent invities where not caped though one was injured the other should have been given time of play at list to encourage their club for future invìtation, gent are already unhappy with the situation of their maradona(orban) caping tunarigha would have been encouraging.
Osihman is beyond part two, he is just a long series movie if season to season, awoniyi covered him self today with an undisputable goal of the match, though i wasnt impressed with his over all display, but he shown he is improved, needs to work more on his Achilles hills like ball countrol and ball usage, he is not too comfortable on the ball, but he is a classic 9 and deserve to go to afcon, but his paring osihmen will not work, i think he will do better alone, he will be usefull sub for osimhen,
Boniface wasnt given enough time as i expected, but he still shows he his a bal jugler, and makes very dangerouse moves, he is a better pair with osihmen than awoniyi, becos he bring a different styles entirely, just like aneka, awoniyi is too similar to osihmen and will struggle to find his spaces,
Lookman has shown he is there behind moses simon in that position, he will be a usefull backup for simon,
Onyemeachi will chase out collins for good and sit proparly behind sanusi in the afcon proper,
Orban continious club display will keep his afcon place,
Rafael,nwakali,etebo,aribo,alhassan, will battle for one space for the afcon, but i feel aribo will have the nod over them if he improves club display, only couples of magical display can bring nwakali in.
The afcon formation is already visable from todays peseros ezibition, my prediction for afcon formation, pesero will not take the risk of 442 formation in afcon, he will use both 433 switch 442, that means alex iwobi will replace awoniyi as osihmen pair allowing pesero to easily switch to 433 when necesary, and iwobi posses more danger behind a striker, 433 switch 442
Uzoho
Aina ajayi omeruo sanusi
Onyeka Ndidi
Iheanacho simon
Iwobi
Osihmen
Subs:chuk(iheanacho) awo(osihmen) iwobi(boniface) lookman(simon) bassey or awaziem can also displace omeruo if they keep convincing club football.
One love my people, i love you all, one bottle for iheanacho.
Omeruo is tired and yr defence isn’t water tight .
With this selection you can’t win big African team like Senegal
Ihenacho rolled back the years in yesterday’s game! His all round performance was reminiscent of his u17 worldcup winning days,it’s been ages I last saw him play like this,if the Coach continues to deploy him in the role he played in this match for future games,then Chuks has to really up his game to be a starter in the team.Taiwo and Osimhen pairing is too similar,it’s either one or the other,and we all know it’s Osibobo all the time. Osimhen will benefit more from a Boniface pairing,and I suspect that an Orban pairing with him will work too. It seems Peseiro is a man with a mission, overall am happy and look forward to our next game soon.
Here we go again, praising certain players hyping them up knowing fully well these players can’t be trusted to do same against serious opponents. I’m not convinced about that midfield, I would like to see Aina, Compete with Iwobi or iheanacho in our AM position before ceding the Jersey to anyone, and let’s Tella compete with Sammy in that right flank before ceding the jersey to anyone.guys we need serious competition let the best committed players,the most skillful players wins. No sentiments
God bless you @sunnyb. I expected these folks here to wait and see if they can give the same hype over their performance after playing big teams not doing so over cheap ass team
If a player performs well, me I go praise am.
And if he mess up, I go yab am.
Cheap ass team? Calling a team “cheap ass” is incredibly disrespectful.
If they are cheap ass, what does that make you? Are you better than them? If you are not more talented than them as an individual, does that also make you a cheap ass?
Make we dey try treat opponents with respect..