By Victor Kanayo
Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi scored the only goal as Nottingham Forest earned their second English Premier League victory on Saturday October 22, 2022 with a gusty performance after a shocking 1-0 win over Liverpool.
Awoniyi, a Unicorn and Imperial Academy product was brilliant in the lunch time fixture at the City Ground, posting a Man of the match performance.
The visitors came close to getting the opener in the early minutes of the game through Roberto Firmino but the Brazilian’s header couldn’t find the target.
Awoniyi who was a former Liverpool forward opened the scoresheet for his team in the 55th minute of the encounter, when he latched on to a right wing cross and fired to the upright, before reacting quickest and smashed the ball home.
It was indeed a dream goal for the Super Eagles forward, who had relished playing against his former employee long before now.
This will be Nottingham Forest second win of the season and Awoniyi’s third goal in the Premier League so far.
Awoniyi bagged his debut Premier League goal in his team’s first win of the season against Westham United.
Later same day, Tanzania’s second half equalizer set up a winner-takes-all showdown in Ibadan as they earned a 1-1 draw against Nigeria in first leg of Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Having started the better team on home soil, the hosts were dealt a 29th-minute blow when Success Makanjuola scored from the penalty spot. Midfielder Qudus Akanni was fouled in the box.
The visitors decided to dig in and sit deep with a lead in their grasp and Tanzania lacked the quality to break them down in open play.
But in a game with two sides so potent from 12 yards it was no surprise when Pascal Msindo levelled from a spot with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Tanzania could have snatched the winner as they twice hit the post in the last 10 minutes.
Nigeria were the happier to hear the full-time whistle but were just as relieved that Tanzania never regained their momentum.
The return leg takes place in Ibadan next week Saturday.
Victory on aggregate will take the Olympic Eagles to the next round of the qualifier, which the final tournament has been scheduled for the Kingdom of Morocco November 2 to 26, 2023.
