The Super Eagles of Nigeria kicked off their AFCON 2023 qualifiers campaign with a hard fought 2-1 win over Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the Abuja stadium on Thursday.

Super Eagles put in a dominant display, winning at the end of the game thanks to goals from Iwobi and Osimhen, both assisted by Simon, who helped the Eagles effectively cancel out Jonathan Morsay’s opener.

Both teams started the game well, but it only took the Leone Stars 11 minutes to score the game’s first goal, thanks to Jonathan Morsay’s header from a wonderful pass down the left.

Calvin Bassey’s weak defending rendered Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho helpless as Sierra Leone took the lead through a wonderful header from Jonathan Marsey.

Alex Iwobi equalized for the Super Eagles five minutes later with a spectacular finish. The Everton midfielder used his Premier League form to coolly put in Nigeria’s equalizer from the edge of the box.

As the keeper rooted to the spot, Moses Simon teed up Alex Iwobi in the crucial area, who scooped up the ball and slammed his shot into the far post.

Alex Iwobi becomes the third Nigerian midfielder to score 10+ goals for the Super Eagles.

Before Victor Osimhen doubled the lead for the Eagles with a quick reaction to Simon Moses’ knockdown header before slashing home into the roof of the net with four minutes remaining in the first half.

Chukwueze missed a huge chance to make it three for the Eagles nine minutes into the second half. Villarreal’s star tried to bend one in after Osimhen laid it on a plate, but it was a terrible miss.

15 minutes later, Bassey delivers a superb cross into the box, which finds Osimhen, who sends his header goalwards but just wide.

Both teams had chances to either raise or level the scores, but the home side won 2-1 after 90 minutes of game play at the Abuja stadium.

Despite the fact that the Abuja ground was too uneven to allow free flow of play, the Super Eagles were able to achieve a 2-1 victory.

First game, first win as the Super Eagles put three points on the board in Abuja.

Who was your man of the match ?

𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕?
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