An excellent second half from the CHAN Eagles ensured that they qualified for the quarter final of the 2018 African Nations Championship on Tuesday night.
Home-based Super Eagles came back from a goal down to defeat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 in Group C clash at the Stade Adrar in Agadir, Morocco.
Goals from Anthony Okpotu, Dayo Ojo and Rabiu Ali was all the 2014 CHAN Bronze Medalists needed to scale through as Group winners with seven points after a first half scare from Nsi Eyama Salvador.
Deserved win for the Super Eagles who march into the knockout stages alongside Libya who scored a late winner in their clash against Rwanda at the same time.
The Eagles got a shock of their lives in the 40th minute. Salvador powered home a header from a corner-kick to give Nzalang Nacional a surprise lead.
The Eagles sustained a good spell and had their leveller shortly after, this time Okpotu didn’t make any mistake with his effort. He powered an unstoppable header into the roof of the net from close range. It was a great cross from Osas.
Ojo who dictated the flow of the game at the midfield put the Eagles in the lead for the first time with a world class goal.
The playmaker hit an unstoppable long range effort beyond the goalkeeper.
Seven minutes from regulation time, it was 3-1 for Nigeria as substitute Rabiu Ali expertly converted a penalty kick.
With the win, Nigeria finished as the top gun in Group C with seven points from three games, while Libya who secured a late win over Libya finished as runners-up and also qualified for the quarterfinals.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
