A depleted Super Eagles side came from a goal down to defeat Cape Verde 2-1 in a FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday at the Stadium Aderito Sena to go three points clear off the log after two matches.
The three-time African champions were without their core players that prosecuted last week’s 2-0 win over Liberia owing to the UK restrictions policy on Covid-19.
Dylan Taveres had put the Blue Sharks ahead after 20 minutes from what television replays showed should have been ruled as offside, but Gernot Rohr’s men shrugged off the disappointment of conceding their first goal of the qualifiers to pull level 10 minutes later through Victor Osimhen.
Pressure from the Eagles went on to force an own goal from Rocha Santos which sailed over Cape Verdean goalkeeper with 15 minutes from the blast of the final whistle sealed all three points for the Super Eagles.
Julio Tavares’s 88th minute header almost beat Maduka Okoye in goal for Nigeria but the ball agonizingly came off the foot of the post and rolled out for a goal kick.
Nigeria top Group C of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with six points, three more than Liberia, while Cape Verde and Central African Republic have one point each.
