Super Egles striker Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick as Nigeria trounced Sao Tome and Principe 6-0 in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, Qualifier in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Sunday.
Jose Peseiro’s side emerged victorious at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in the second-ever meeting between the two countries in international football.
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The Sao Tome and Principe team, rated 183rd in the world, knew what they were in for when Osimhen put the 30th-ranked Super Eagles ahead after only 13 minutes with a header following a beautiful cross from a corner.
Soon after, Osimhen had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside before a superb reaction stop from Sao Tome custodian Anastacio Bragança denied the Napoli player’s close-range header.
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It was just a matter of time before the Super Eagles extended their lead in the 28th minute, using the same combination that had opened the scoring.
Ademola Lookman showed excellent poise to control before blasting a finish into the back of the net in the 27th minute, making it two for the Super Eagles.
The lively Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest made it three in the 51st minute, smashing home a close-range shot from a cross.
In the 69th minute of the game, Oshimen scored a penalty from the spot to make it four for Nigeria.
Oshimen and Samuel Chukwueze saw the back of the net in the 79th and 84th minutes, respectively, to make it six for Nigeria.
