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The Super Eagles of Nigeria won 6-0 against Sao Tome and Principe thanks to Victor Osimhen's hat-trick and goals from Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi and Samuel Chukwueze. Here is how the action all played out.
- That is the end of our live coverage but the action never stops with Pulse Sports Nigeria, get ready to be bombarded with a barrage of original post-game content but for now, I leave you with some reactions from Elon Musk's X.
- Victor Osimhen's hat-trick sets him apart as the standout player but so many other players had great games, Iheanacho, Chukwueze and Lookman among others.
- The Super Eagles finish top of Group A with 15 points and a record 22 goals, the most by any team in the history of AFCON qualifiers.
- Sao Tome would be relieved it is over, losing 16-0 on aggregate to Nigeria over two games is a rough experience.
- FULLTIME!!! The final whistle blows in Uyo and it's all over, Nogeria 6-0 Sao Tome!!!
- 86' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!! 6-0!!!! Samuel Chukwueze this time with the goal after some nice work by Victor Boniface. The substitutes combine well for a beautiful goal.
- That is now Osimhen's 20th goal for Nigeria, only Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Segun Odegbami and the late great Rashidi Yekini have scored more for the Super Eagles.
- 79' Osimhen was played through beautifully by the substitute Chukwueze and of course, the number 9 converted the one-on-one with familiar expertise.
- GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!! VICTOR OSIMHEN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Again!!!!!!!!!!!! The striker completes his hat-trick.
- ICYMI! That was Nigeria's fourth goal of the game, scored by Victor Osimhen from the penalty spot.
- 73' SUBSTITUTION On comes Samuel Chukwueze who replaces the fantastic Kelechi Iheanacho who has really had a great game.
- With that goal, Osimhen moves joint-fourth on the Super Eagles' all-time top scorers list, jumping over Sunday Oyarekhua and Obafemi Martins and is now tied with Ikechukwu Uche on 19 goals for Nigeria.
- 69' GOAL!!!! Never in doubt, Victor Osimhen sends the goalkeeper the wrong way to convert the spot kick for his second and Nigeria's fourth of the evening.
- 68' PENALTY!!!!! Victor Osimhen is brought down in the box by the Sao Tome goalkeeper and the referee points to the spot immediately
- 64' SUBSTITUTIONS Victor Boniface makes his Super Eagles debut, coming off the bench to replace Taiwo Awoniyi. Joe Aribo is also on in place of Frank Onyeka.
- The Super Eagles begin the second half just as they ended the first...on the front foot and their lead has now been increased in spectacular fashion by Taiwo Awoniyi who volleyed home after being picked out by a lovely dinked pass by Iheanacho.
- 51' GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!! TAIWO AWONIYI!!!!!!!!!! NIGERIA 3-0 SAO TOME
- Welcome back to the Nest of Champions in Uyo where the second half is now underway and Nigeria still lead Sao Tome and Principe by two goals to nil.
- By halftime of the first game against Sao Tome, Nigeria were 3-0 up but went on to win 10-0. It remains to be seen how this one will end and we will have 45 more minutes of action to find out.
- The first half in UYO has gone pretty much as expected with the Super Eagles dominating proceeding and leading in pretty much every relevant statistic.
- HALFTIME! NIGERIA 2-0 SAO TOME
- Have a look at Lookman's goal to double Nigeria's lead in the 28th minute. Dancing feet and a firm finish,
- Kelechi Iheanacho put the ball in the back of the net but the offside flag swiftly followed to cancel out the potential third goal. Still, it remains NIGERIA 2-0 SAO TOME in Uyo.
- Lookman cut in from the left side on his favourite right foot, skipping past two challenges and then hitting it low and hard into the bottom corner.
- 28' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! NIGERIA 2-0 SAO TOME Ademola Lookman with the second goal for the Super Eagles
- 22' Taiwo Awoniyi goes to ground after looking like he was through on goal but all penalty appeals are waived away by the referee despite what looks like a clear push on the Nigerian striker. Still Nigeria 1-0 Sao Tome.
- Here's the Osimhen goal for your viewing pleasure. 👆
- That was Osimhen's eighth goal in the AFCON Qualifiers, no player has more than the Nigerian.
- 14' Osimhen rises highest to connect with an Ademola Lookman corner kick to head home the opening goal.
- GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!! VICTOR OSIMHEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who else!!!???
- 10 minutes of play have gone by and it is still goalless in Uyo, by this time in the reverse fixture, Osimhen had already put the Super Eagles ahead.
- 6' A big chance for Taiwo Awoniyi who is played through on goal by Iheanacho but his first-time effort was deflected over the bar for a corner kick which ultimately leads to nothing and Sao Tome escapes.
- The Super Eagles have of course started on the front foot, confidently moving the ball around in search of the first goal.
- 2' BIG SAVE!!! Wilfried Ndidi connected with a Kelechi Iheanacho cross from a corner kick and directed a powerful header goalward which was saved by the goalkeeper.
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FOOTBALL
19:45 - 08.09.2023
Super Eagles: Why Peseiro must trust Boniface, not Osimhen, against Sao Tome
Victor Osimhen is Nigeria’s best centre-forward, but is there a case to be made to play Victor Boniface instead against Sao Tome and Principe on Sunday?
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SPORTS GIST
06:30 - 09.09.2023
Super Eagles vs Sao Tome: Governor Eno to give 30,000 tickets for free
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno will provide 30,000 tickets to watch the Super Eagles of Nigeria against Sao Tome.
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FOOTBALL
09:45 - 09.09.2023
Nigeria vs Sao Tome and Principe: Super Eagles stars initiated with Burna Boy, 2face hits
The trio of Victor Boniface, Gift Orban and Jordan Torunarigha have been welcomed into the Super Eagles by their new teammates.
- As we await kickoff in Uyo, feel free to catch on all the full coverage of this game as brought to you by PULSE SPORTS over the week.
- Osimhen scored four goals last time around when these two teams faced off in Morocco and it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect goals from him today as well.
- Potential debutants Jordan Torunarigha and Victor Boniface are on the bench, likely to be introduced later on but Gift Orban is not listed due to an injury picked up in training, the KAA Gent striker will have to wait for his Super Eagles debut.
- The lineups paint a picture of dominance for Nigeria with Victor Osimhen leading the line along with Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho in an interesting change of shape.
- If the reverse fixture is anything to go by, then Sao Tome are in for a long 90 minutes as Nigeria emerged 10-0 winners when they last met in Morocco back in June 2022.
- It is a real David and Goliath encounter here in Akwa Ibom except things are not looking good for this David in particular as the Super Eagles are the overwhelming favourites.
- Hello and welcome to PULSE SPORTS' live coverage of the AFCON Qualifying fixture between Nigeria and Sao Tome at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
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