Nigeria's Super Eagles on Tuesday tighten their stay on the Group C of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after a 1-2 win over Cape Verde.
A 75th-minute own goal by the hosts the Eagles a vital win in Mindelo in the match which captain, Ahmed Musa celebrates his 100th appearance for Nigeria.
The hosts took the lead via a well-steered home shot from Dylan Dos Santos in the first nineteenth minutes of an end-to-end first half.
He slipped behind the Eagles’ rearguard and slammed a rocket of a shot past goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.
Gernot Rohr's men responded to the goal before the halftime break, launching series of dangerous attacks on the Blue Sharks.
Chidera Ejuke forced the opposing goalkeeper to an acrobatic save in the 27th minute and two minutes later, an alert Victor Osimhen pulled level, stabbing home from close range after the goalkeeper punched following a defensive blunder.
The Eagles came close to adding to the tally to make it 1-2 in the 41st minute, as the lively Ejuke again rattled the Cape Verde number one before Osimhen came close to scoring again right from a corner with a minute to recess.
In the second half, the three-time African champions came close to scoring on various occasions.
Ahmed Musa latched onto a centre by Osimhen as the Eagles pushed forward, but his tame shot was easily collected.
The status quo changed in the seventy-fifth minute in a spectacular manner.
Kenny Santos with the aim of making a backpass to his goalkeeper ended up scoring in his own net as the ball floated above the goaltender and landed in the net.
The goal put Nigeria in front and eventually gave the Super Eagles the three points on the night.
The victory secured Nigeria's second win on the trot from two matches, three points ahead of second-placed Liberia.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
