Striker Kelechi Iheanacho struck a superb winner against Tanzania to power Nigeria to victory in their Group G Day 6 clash on Saturday in Uyo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0iZVU1PbZM
The victory gave new Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr a winning start to his role at the helm of the West Africans.
Thousands of fans who thronged the stadium to watch the dead rubber encounter had to wait till the 78th minute before the Manchester City forward scored the winner with a powerful left foot shot from the edge of the box for the only goal of the match.
This was a match the 2013 African champions should have won easily but for poor marksmanship in front of goal right from the opening five minutes as the duo of Odion Ighalo and Victor Moses failed to seize initiatives.
The Eagles continued with their dominance for most of the first half but they failed to press the advantage in a match thought to be a routine tune up for their forthcoming FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifier against Zambia in October.
The visiting Taifa Stars threatened on resumption of the second half as their hosts searched for their first win at the ‘Nest of Champions’ and it was Iheanacho who settled matters with the winner just 12 minutes to the end.
It was Iheanacho’s first goal in a competitive outing since making his debut as a substitute in a goalless 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Swaziland last November.
Nigeria, who will miss out on the AFCON for the second time running, finished in second position with five points, five behind leaders Egypt who had since nicked the group’s sole ticket after a lone goal victory over the Super Eagles last March in Alexandria. Tanzania sits at the bottom with just a point from four games.
Iheanacho Fires Eagles Past Taifa Stars (Highlights)
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