Super Eagles on Saturday in Kaduna overcame an average first half performance to beat Chad 2-0 in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
A commanding second half performance resulted in two goals to ensure the game’s full points were in the kitty at the Ahmadu Belo Stadium which was filled to capacity.
The Eagles started the match with a lethargic performance which saw the Chadians taking control and troubling the Nigerian defence through Casimir Ninga and team captain, Ezechiel Ndouassel.
But they only had two corner kicks to show for their efforts, in the ninth and 17th minutes, with Kenneth Omeruo and William Ekong looking strong in the middle.
With Kingsley Madu and Leon Balogun looking brilliant on the flanks, the Nigerian defence pushed back to prop the midfield trio of Ogenyi Onazi, Babatunde Michael and Anderson Esiti.
However, it still needed the aggression of Ahmed Musa, Aaron Samuel and Gbolahan Salami to get the Eagles into their stride.
Musa saw his free kick from about 30 metres out tipped over by goalkeeper Dillah Mbairamadji in the 22nd minute.
Balogun’s header to Musa’s corner kick 10 minutes later was also wide by inches, while Salami’s effort was cleared off the line in the 34th minute.
This was after Balogun’s upfield pass, after he repulsed a left wing offensive, met a running Madu who flicked onto Salami’s path an inviting pass.
The Chadians had the best of the first half scoring chances in the 38th minute, when Ndouassel went close with a low shot to goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama’s right.
But the Nigerian captain was quick to push it away for a respite which gave for much of their second half confidence.
Onazi gave the Chadians an inkling of what to expect nine minutes into the second half with his free kick from about 20 metres out on the right.
While it hit the base of the far upright, Salami was more clinical in the 61st minute when he charged into the Chadians’ penalty area on the right.
He lifted a rising shot past goalkeeper Mbairamadji, who had no chance of stopping it anyway, for Nigeria’s first goal.
Rabiu Ibrahim, who substituted Michael in the 60th minute, and Odion Ighalo who came on for injured Samuel in the 62nd minute, brought more fluidity into the Nigerian game.
From there on, the eagles dictated the pace, with the Chadians’ introduction of Labbo Mahadat for Mbaian Darius in the 61st minute looking to having no telling effect.
Even with the Chadians continuing on with very robust challenges, which indeed earned them four yellow cards, the Super Eagles went on to enjoy their game with better passes.
It was however the Eagles who were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute after a rash challenge by Onazi in retaliation, even after a penalty kick was awarded his team.
Ighalo, who was brought down by Asselmo Kilioutou some seconds earlier, rose to score the penalty kick with a hard low shot under the goalkeeper for the second goal.
The Chadians threw more men into the game thereafter, with Dany Karl-Max and Beadoum Nonde coming on for Casimir and Morgan Betorangal in the 83rd and 85th minutes respectively.
But the Eagles held on tight for victory, something to hold on to before they visit Tanzania in their second game of the qualifiers.
