Eagles demolish Liberia 6-1, qualify for Nations Cup

Super Eagles players celebrating victory over Liberia in Calabar … on Saturday.
| credits: AFP

 

Chelsea duo Mikel Obi and Victor Moses were responsible for three goals as the Super Eagles on Saturday at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar, humiliated Liberia’s Lone Star 6-1 to qualify for the South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Eagles thus went through 8-3 aggregate after they were held to a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Monrovia.

The qualification eased a lot of anxiety after the Eagles failed to qualify for this year’s Nations Cup.

Coach Stephen Keshi started only two home-based players, Godfrey Oboabona, who stood in for injured skipper Joseph Yobo and Azubuike Egwueke in his line-up while Lazio young midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, made his international debut, coming on for the ineffective Obiora Nwankwo late in the game.

New Celtic signing Efe Ambrose sent fans at the packed 10, 000-capacity UJ Esuene Stadium into rapturous celebrations when he headed in Ahmed Musa’s free kick as early as the first minute.

The Liberians, led by CSKA Moscow forward Sekou Oliseh then took control of the game. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was called into action when he dived full length to parry wide Oliseh’s drive from 25 yards.

 But it was Oliseh’s club teammate, Musa, who doubled the Eagles lead after evading a desperate tackle from a Liberian defender to poke home Emmanuel Emenike’s cross in the 38th minute.

Afterwards Real Betis midfielder Nosa Igiebor set up Moses for the Eagles third goal — and his first goal for Nigeria — just after the break and two minutes later, Mikel scored his third international goal from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Nathaniel Sherman had brought down Igiebor.

Liberian woes were compounded when captain Duncan Gebro was expelled for diving inside the Nigerian box in the 70th minute. Nigeria capitalised on the advantage when substitute Ike Uche, who came on for Emenike, made it 5-0 in the 72nd minute.

Substitute Patrick Wreh got a consolation for the visitors with 10 minutes remaining but the Eagles, cheered on by the home fans, sealed an emphatic win when Moses headed home Mikel’s precise cross with seconds remaining.