Nigeria' s Super Eagles began their qualification campaign for the 2025 Africa Nations Cup in Morocco on a beautiful note, feasting on Cheetahs of Benin Republic with three goals from Ademola Lookman who grabbed a brace and Victor Osimhen who marked his return to the team with a fantastic strike at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in a qualifier opener played at Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom State capital on Saturday
Lookman, the Atalanta of Italy forward and a 2024 Ballon d’Or award nominee, opened scoring for the Eagles before the home fans with a brilliant individual effort which eventually broke the watertight defensive wall by the Benenoire late minutes before the halftime
The reigning African Footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen came off the bench in the 75th minute to make the difference within few minutes of his introduction into the match , scoring an incredible goal in the 78th to give the Nigerian side two goals lead before Ademola grabbed a brace in the 83rd minute after meeting a Moses Simon’s cross with his head to put the ball on the top right angle of the post beyond the keeper.
It was a lovely match for Osimhen who recently secured a move to Galatasaray of Turkey after being in the middle of a transfer saga between Napoli, Chelsea and Saudi’s Al Ahl
The Cheetahs made some attacking threats of their own, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali came prepared, making some important saves to maintain Nigeria’s clean sheet against a side who had earlier defeated Eagles 2-1 in a painful 2026 Worldcup qualifier in adopted home in Abidjan, Coted''Ivoire
Eagles will now be on the road against Rwanda in the next qualifier on Tuesday under the interim Coach, Augustine Eguavoen after disappointing deal with the German Bruno Labaddia
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