Nations Cup: Nigeria routs Liberia 6-1, qualifies on 8-3 aggregates
October 13, 2012 18:08
NAN-S-9
Qualifiers
Lagos, Oct. 13, 2012 (NAN) Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Saturday at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, qualified for the 2013 Nations Cup final in South Africa after beating the Lone Stars of Liberia 6-1.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eagles had earlier in the first leg of the second round drew 2-2 with Liberia to qualify on 8-3 aggregate.
NAN reports that Efele Ambrose opened scoring for the Eagles in the 58th seconds of the match watched by a capacity crowd at the stadium.
Ahmed Musa scored the second goal in the 38th minute, Victor Moses made it three in the 47th minute to end the first half of the qualifier at 3-0 in favour of Nigeria.
On resumption, Chelsea’s midfielder, Mikel Obi, made it four for Nigeria through the spot kick in the 51st minute.
Uche Ikechukwu made it five in the 80th minute while Moses completed the routing with his second goal in the 87th minute.
Liberia got its consolation goal in the 85th minute of the one-sided encounter.
NAN reports that Nigeria’s qualification made it the nation’s 17th appearances in the biennial continental competition.
Commenting on the match, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, a former Head Coach of the Eagles, described the victory as commendable.
“The players played an understanding and more coherent match which is the most essential in a team.
“Considering the pressure under which they played, we need to salute their courage for a job well done, for their team work as well as winning the match,” Onigbinde said.
When asked to comment on the most outstanding player of the match, the coach said that said he does not believe in that.
“I don’t go into that in football, football is a team game, no matter how good you are if the other team members are not playing well, you cannot do anything,’’ Onigbinde said.
He observed that the lone goal conceded by the Eagles showed that the other defenders were able to manage the absence of their captain and defender, Joseph Yobo.
“Football is about scoring goals, and we conceded only one goal which shows that we have capable hands,’’ Onigbinde said.
Festus Allen, a former coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, gave kudos to the team for the qualification.
Allen also advised the team to play a more cohesive game especially at the Nation's Cup.
Coach Oladunni Oyekale of Prime FC of Ogbomoso, expressed happiness that the country has qualified for the competition after failing to qualify for the last edition.
He commended the team for making the nation proud.
Fanny Amu, a former coach of the U-17 team, urged Coach Stephen Keshi to work towards winning the Nation's Cup, so as to break the jinx of Nigeria’s failure to win the elusive trophy since hosting the competition in 1994. (NAN)
KAO/AYO/OAF/EWE/MZA
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