Daily Trust

Super Eagles arrive Lagos for fanfare with Crocodiles

- By David Ngobua

After a last minute 1-0 win over the Squirrels of Benin in Porto-Novo which shot them to an unassailab­le 11 points in their 2021 AFCON qualifying group, the Super Eagles returned to Lagos yesterday afternoon and are looking forward to a colourful house party against the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos tomorrow.

Substitute Paul Onuachu’s last-gasp bullet header secured all the points, restored the Nigeria team’s winning mentality and condemned Benin Republic to a dogfight with the Leone Stars in their own encounter in Freetown.

It will be recalled that when the Super Eagles and the Crocodiles of Lesotho clashed 16 months ago in Maseru, a brace by Victor Osimhen and one each by Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze steered the Eagles to a 4-2 win.

However, it was the three time African champions who conceded first when Nkoto Masoabi rose highest in-between two Super Eagles defenders to nod powerfully past Daniel Akpeyi in the 11th minute before.

Stung into action, the Super Eagles then pumped four goals past goalkeeper Moerane Sekhoane before an own goal by defender Chidozie Awaziem gave the scoreline a semblance of respectabi­lity for the hosts.

According to the NFF, the match commission­er and referees for the match arrived yesterday but Super Eagles opponents will fly into Nigeria this morning.

Lesotho, who bravely held Sierra Leone to a scoreless draw in Maseru on Saturday but are no longer in the running for a ticket to Cameroon, will have their official training at the Teslim Balogun Stadium this evening by 5pm.

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