International Football
What a day of new records! Super Eagles have their biggest goal harvest ever
KUNLE SOLAJA
Old records came tumbling down Monday afternoon as the Super Eagles anihilated hapless Sao Tome and Principe, beating them 10-0 in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Agadir, Morocco.
First, Victor Osimhen, the main hitman, scored four to equal the number of goals Rashidi Yekini scored in Lagos in a 7-1 defeat of Burkina Faso. His goal tally would have been six – double hattrick – had two of his goals not overruled.
Secondly, the 10-0 win is the widest goal margin win for the Nigerian national team, sending into the dustbin, the 10-1 defeat of the then Dahomey (now Benin Republic) on 28 November 1959.
Ademola Lookman also finally scored for Nigeria who are now likely to take the driver’s seat even if Guinea Bissau beat Sierra Leone later today.
Nigeria opened the game cautiously as Osimhen perfectly connected a Simon Moses’ cross in the ninth minute. Later it was Osimhen who reciprocate by providing the assist for Moses to score the second goal.
Terem Moffi just before half time made it three goals for Nigeria. Osimhen score his fourth goal in the 48th minute. One of the stunning moment of the game was Oghenekaro Etebo’s 55th minute free kick which sailed over the defence into the net.
Terem Moffi made it 6-0 before Lookman’s goal in the 63rd minute took scoreline to 7-0. Osimhen put in two more goals in the 65th and 84th minute while Emmanuel Dennis scored from the penalty spot two minutes into the added time.