Former African champions, the Super Eagles, have moved to the summit of the AFCON 2019 qualifying table courtesy their hard-earned 3-2 win over the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in Sfax, Tunisia on Tuesday.
Super Eagles’ gaffer, Gernot Rohr, stuck to his starting line up in the first leg in Uyo at the weekend but introduced Ola Aina in place of injured Shehu Abdullahi.
Aina joined Brighton’s Leon Balogun, William Ekong and Jamilu Collins to provide Francis Uzoho cover.
In-form forward Odion Ighalo proved too strong for the hosts as he shot Nigeria ahead 14 minutes from kick off.
The striker connected a pass from the team’s skipper Ahmed Musa to score his fourth goal for Nigeria in three days.
Nigeria doubled the lead with Musa who also got a supply from Ighalo in the 17th minute of the tie.
Libya’s Mohammed Nurudeen however reduced the tally with a header in the 37th minute of the tie.
Nigeria’s effort to regain the two-goal lead was futile as both teams headed for the break.
On resumption for the second half, the Libyans were desperate for a comeback as they mounted pressure on Nigeria’s defence.
The Nigerian side finally caved in as the hosts grabbing an equalizer.
With few minutes to the end of the game, Ighalo struck to seal victory for Nigeria.
Nigeria now tops the group with nine points ahead of South Africa with eight points, while Libya and Seychelles are on three and zero points respectively.
Earlier in the day, Seychelles held South Africa to a 0-0 draw in Victoria.
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