By Victor Kanayo
Again, 2023 Ballon d’Or nominee Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick as Nigeria’s Super Eagles beat the Falcons of Sao Tome and Principe silly in the final match of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Another Osimhen Superlative Performance
During the match, Osimhen, Napoli’s hitman reignited his goal-scoring prowess against the Falcons, a team he netted four goals against in the first leg AFCON qualifier encounter.
That match actually saw Nigeria drown Sao Tome 10-0 away.
Top Of Group A
Yet in the return leg, the Sao Tomeans were clearly no match for the Super Eagles with solo efforts from Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Samuel Chuwkueze delivering the goods, in addition to their misery.
The victory ensured that the Nigerian side finished their AFCON qualifying campaign as Group A leaders with 15 points from six matches, Guinea Biussau are second with 10 points.
They still have a game at hand against Sierra Leone on Monday.
Qualifier Of Goals For Super Eagles
So far, the Super Eagles have scored 22 goals so far in the AFCON qualifier matches and 16 of the goals have come against Sao Tome.
Oshimen’s hat-trick on Sunday means he has 20 goals for Super Eagles of Nigeria, which helped him to surpass Obafemi Martin’s goals 18, now 17 goals away from surpassing all time Super Eagles highest goal scorer Rashidi yekini with 37 goals.
Next year’s Nations Cup will hold in Cote d’ivoire in January.
