The Super Eagles annihilated São Tomé and Príncipe 6-0 in the final qualifying game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers played at the Godswill Akpbio Stadium on Sunday evening, Reelradio.com.ng reports.
Jose Peseiro’s side lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Francis Uzoho, Calvin Bassey, Kelechi Iheanacho, Bruno Onyemaechi, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ademola Lookman, Bruno Onyemaechi, Frank Onyeka being named in the starting XI in a very much changed side.
However, it was the 2023 Ballon d’Or nominee, Victor Osimhen, who swiftly changed the course of the game.
Osimhen scored four in the first-leg against this opposition, and in only 13 minutes, he scored the opener for this encounter, heading in an Ademola Lookman cross from a corner kick.
This remarkable goal also saw Osimhen matching the legendary Obafemi Martins’ record, notching his 18th goal for the Super Eagles.
Atlanta forward Lookman double the advantage in the 27th minute having collected a pass from Wilfred Ndidi, before getting past his markers to slot the ball into the net.
Taiwo Awoniyi, who started up front with Osimhen, made it three in the 51st minute, getting his goal after struggling to make an impact in the first-half.
Osimhen made it an emphatic victory for Jose Peseiro with a penalty he won in the 69th minute before bagging Nigeria’s 5th goal and his hat trick 10 minutes later.
Substitute Samuel Chukwueze provided the final nail in the coffin of the São Toméans six minutes before the stoppage time with a cool finish from Victor Boniface’s pass
The victory seals the 2013 AFCON winner’s place as the best-ranked team in their qualifying group with 15 points, 5 points more than Guinea-Bissau who still have a a game to play.
Nigeria will know their group stage opponents on October 12 when the draw for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is made.
