Nigeria move closer to playoffs in WC qualifying

JOHANNESBURG: Napoli forward Victor Osimhen scored to set up Nigeria for a 2-0 win over Liberia on Saturday that moved them closer to a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance.

The Super Eagles host Cape Verde in a top-ofthe-table Group C clash on Tuesday and will win the section provided they avoid defeat in Lagos.

Nigeria have 12 points and Cape Verde 10 ater five rounds while the Central African Republic (four) and Liberia (three) are out of the running.

Should the six-time World Cup qualifiers top the table, they join nine other section winners in a draw that will create five two-leg ties with the winners going to the 2002 finals in Qatar.

Osimhen converted a 15th-minute penalty ater Kelechi Iheanacho was fouled and substitute Ahmed Musa added the second goal, also from a spot kick, in added time.

The qualifier was staged in the Moroccan coastal city of Tangiers because no stadium in Liberia meets international standards.

Cape Verde, an island nation of 560,000 people that has never competed at the World Cup, kept their hopes alive by coming from behind to beat the Central African Republic 2-1 in Mindelo.

Julio Tavares neted early in the second half to cancel the lead Isaac Ngoma gave the visitors ater 11 minutes, and Ianique ‘Stopira’ Tavares notched the 75th-minute winner.

Ivory Coast will take a one-point lead over Cameroon to Douala on Tuesday for a showdown that will decide who progresses from Group D.

CAMEROON ROUT MALAWI: Goals from MaxAlain Gradel, Burnley forward Maxwel Cornet and Jean-michael Seri gave the Ivorians a 3-0 win over Mozambique in Cotonou a few hours ater Cameroon had outplayed 10-man Malawi 4-0 in Soweto.