Nigeria sneak into third round despite draw

Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw by Cape Verde in a 2022 Fifa World Cup qualification Group C match at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Tuesday night.

The draw saw the Super Eagles finish at the top of Group C and advance to the third round of qualifying, while the Blue Sharks' ambitions of qualifying for next year's finals in Qatar ended.

It took just a minute for the Super Eagles to break the deadlock through Victor Osimhen as he handed Nigeria a 1-0 lead after the Blue Sharks' defence had failed to clear away Moses Simon's cross. 

However, the hosts lost concentration at the back and they conceded when Ianique Tavares, who is better known as Stopira, scored from inside the box to make it 1-1 six minutes into the game.

The Super Eagles then controlled the match, but they were wasteful in front of goal as Odion Ighalo failed to score from close range, before Vozinha pulled off two good saves to deny Joe Aribo.

The score was 1-1 during the half-time break with Nigeria needing a draw or a victory in order to advance to the next round of qualifying, while Cape Verde had to win the game in order to secure progression.

 The hosts continued to control the game after the restart and coach Bubista decided to introduce Willy Semedo and Nuno Borges on the hour mark as the Blue Sharks looked to take the lead for the first time.

Vozinha was always alert in the Blue Sharks' goal-posts as the Cyprus-based shot-stopper came out rushing and snatched the ball, before the pacey Osimhen could pounce and hit the back of the net. 

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr made changes in the 78th minute as he introduced English Premier League stars Frank Onyeka and Kelechi Iheanacho with the Super Eagles looking to restore the lead.

Cape Verde had a chance to snatch a late winning goal when the ball fell kindly for Semedo on the edge of the hosts' box, but his goal-bound effort was blocked and, ultimately, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Nigeria (1) 1 (Osimhen 1')
Cape Verde (1) 1 (Stopira 6')

NIGERIA: Okoye, Awaziem, Ekong, Balogun, Collins, Aribo (Aribo 78'), Ndidi, Iwobi, Simon (Shehu 68'), Ighalo (Iheanacho 78'), Osimhen (Onuachu 89').

CAPE VERDE: Vozinha, Stopira, Lopes, Fortes, Andrade (T.Tavares 66'), Paula (Vagner 76'), Rocha (Nenass 66'), Monteiro (Borges 60'), J.Tavares, Mendes, Fortes (Semedo 60').