Football fans in Nigeria are still basking in the euphoria of the 4-0 thrashing of Libya by darling Super Eagles who put up an outstanding performance in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital on Saturday evening.
Striker, Odion Ighalo may have cleared himself of the Russia 2018 World Cup poor performances with a hat-trick against Libya.
The striker was obviously not at his best in Russia where the Super Eagles couldn’t go do more than a first round elimination.
Ighalo recorded his first ever international hat-trick as Samuel Kalu was on hand to complete the Libyan demolition on the 90th minute after he had earlier wasted some scoring chances that would have increased the burdens of the north Africans.
The floodgates opened in the fourth minute after Nigerian star striker of the evening, Ighalo was brought down by Libya keeper, Mohammed Abdaula in the box. He wasted no time in converting the penalty kick to a goal to dampen the Libyan spirit.
New comer Jamilu Collins and Wilfred Ndidi came close to hit the bar while Francis Uzoho denied the Libyans with a reaction save.
Alex Iwobi also put up a great improvement putting Ighalo through with a splitting pass in the 58th minute, Ighalo however did not disappoint, completing his treble in the 69th minute with an Ahmed Musa’s assist.
Kalu capped the day at the final minute of regulation time, tucking his goal behind the net.
With South Africa’s home white washing of visiting Seychelles in a 6-0 harvest in Johannesburg, the Bafana Bafana have reclaimed group leadership of group E.
South Africa now have seven points and Nigeria trailing behind with a point lesser. Libya remains on four, while Seychelles last at the bottom of the pack with zero point.
The Nigerians are playing the Libyans in Tunisia on Tuesday, while Seychelles will be home to South Africa in Victoria hoping to at least secure a point.
