A 79th minute corner-kick converted by Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC, of Ibadan youthful striker, Sunday Faleye was all the home-based Super Eagles needed to Libya in their second game of the ongoing 2018 African Nations Championship, CHAN, at the Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangier, Morocco yesterday.
Faleye converted the corner kick, which beats all standing players, at close range right-leg kick to hit the back of the net at the 79th minutes, to register the first victory for Eagles.
The Coach Salisu led Eagles impressively defeated Libya by a goal to nil to record their first win as they continued their Group C matches in the tourney.
Eagles secured just a point from their first game against Rwanda on Monday which ended goalless inspite of their attacking formation.
It was however thrilling that the much needed three-point to brighten Eagles chances in the group stage of the tourney was secured inspite the resilience of the Libyans.
Both teams looked lively in the opening stages of the game as they searched for an early goal.
Wing-back Osas Okoro had a chance to make it 1-0 to Nigeria, but his effort was blocked by Ahmed El Trbi in the 15th minute.
The first half was clearly lifeless as the two teams resorted back to their shells in a bid to keep a clean sheet.
Nigeria goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa made a comfortable save from Libya midfielder Mohamed Aleyat’s free-kick.
The Mediterranean Knights were solid in the first-half as Nigeria struggled to create clear-cut chances.
The Salisu Yusuf managed side clearly showed their intentions in the second-half. In the space of five minutes they created two chances to score.
Faleye skinned Libya defender Ahmed Al Maghassi, but his cross was out of range for Emeka Ogbugh.
Ogbugh forced Libya keeper Muhammad Nashnoush into a good save with a header as the Eagles pushed for the opening goal.
Omar Aribi tried his luck from range, but the Libya striker’s effort narrowly missed the target.
With time ticking away Nigeria got the killer in the 79th minute through the lively Faleye. The youngster scored from a corner-kick to hand Nigeria the lead.
Despite the late pressure from Libya, the CHAN Eagles held on for a priceless three points.
Libya XI: Muhammad Nashnoush, Sanad Maoud, Ahmed El Trbi, Motasem Sabbou, Ahmed Al Maghasi, Mohamed Aleyat, Bader Ahmed, Abdulrahman Ramadhan khalleefah, Saleh Al Taher, Salem Ablo, Omar Aribi.
Nigeria XI: Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Osas Okoro, Daniel Itodo, Stephen Eze, Kalu Orji, Emeka Atuloma, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Rabiu Ali, Emeka Ogbugh, Anthony Okpotu, Sunday Faleye
Subs: Oladele Ajiboye, Theophilus Afelokhai, Ikouwem Utin, Abdullahi Musa, Timothy Danladi, Ifeanyi Nweke, Augustine Oladapo, Ekundayo Ojo, Eneji Moses, Ibrahim Mustapha, Nur Muhammed, Okechukwu Gabriel.
The Eagles will now head to the city of Agadir, where they play debutants Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday.
