Yesterday, after a lethargic first half during which the players looked laboured, the Eagles managed to score two second half goals to win the game. Goals from Gbolahan Salami and Odion Ighalo in the 69th and 80th minute were enough to give the Eagles maximum points and put them in good stead for the next round.
At a capacity-filled stadium the Eagles started the match laboriously with the Chadians taking control and troubling the Nigerian defence through Casimir Ninga and team captain Ezechiel Ndouassel. However, they only had two corner kicks to show for their efforts with Kenneth Omeruo and William Ekong looking strong in the heart of the defence.
It was the Chadians, however, who had the best of the first half scoring chances when in the 38th minute, Ndouassel went close with a low shot to goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama’s right. However, skipper Enyeama, who has now become Nigeria's most capped player ever, was quick to prevent a certain goal with a point blank save.
Nigeria, however, managed to keep a clean sheet until the end of the first half. Upon the resumption of the game, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi gave the Chadians an inkling of what to expect nine minutes into the second half with his free kick from about 20 metres out on the right when he hit the woodwork.
Salami was more clinical in the 61st minute when he charged into the Chadians’ penalty area on the right and lifted a rising shot past goalkeeper Mbairamadji for Nigeria’s first goal. Rabiu Ibrahim, who came on in the 60th minute, and Odion Ighalo who came on for injured Samuel in the 62nd minute, brought more fluidity into the Nigerian game after that.
From there on, the Eagles dictated the pace of the match, with the Chadians’ introduction of Labbo Mahadat for Mbaian Darius in the 61st minute looking to having no telling effect. Even with the Chadians continuing with very robust challenges, which indeed earned them four yellow cards, the Super Eagles kept on passing the ball better.
It was however the Eagles who were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute after a rash retaliatory challenge by Onazi even after a penalty kick was awarded to Nigeria. Ighalo, who was brought down by Asselmo Kilioutou some seconds earlier, rose to score the penalty kick with a hard low shot under the goalkeeper for the second goal.
After that, the Chadians threw more men into the game, with Dany Karl-Max and Beadoum Nonde coming on for Casimir and Morgan Betorangal in the 83rd and 85th minutes respectively. However, the Eagles held on for victory and now look forward to their visit to Tanzania for their second game of the qualifiers.
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