The Super Eagles last night became the
first African side to book their place at the
2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after a
1-0 win over Zambia in Uyo.
The victory gave them an unassailable
lead of Group B ahead of the final round
of matches.
Alex Iwobi repeated his feat of being the
thorn in the flesh of the Zambians as he
scored again just as he did in the first leg
in Ndola.
Iwobi came off the bench in the second
half to end Zambia’s hope of creating a
final day climax on November 6.
Before Iwobi’s strike, Odion Ighalo, John
Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Moses Simon
went close for the Super Eagles but failed
to score.
Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mwenne
produced an acrobatic save to deny
Wilfred Ndidi in the second half in a
pulsating end-to-end encounter.
Augustine Mulenga thought he had put
Zambia ahead in the 22nd minute, but his
effort was ruled out for offside.
Fashion Sakala, Alex Ng’onga and Enock
Mwepu had chances for the Chipolopolo
but the 2012 African Champions failed to
punish a perplexed Super Eagles defence.
But substitute Iwobi, who had scored in
the reverse fixture in Ndola last October,
finished off a decent attack to send
Nigeria to a third straight World Cup
appearance.
Moses had a great opportunity to add a
second towards the end, but the Chelsea
wing-back slipped inside the box.
Nigeria stay top in Group B and advance
with one game to spare from a pool that
was dubbed the “Group of Death” and
expected to go down to the wire.