By Amaechi Agbo

The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Tuesday finished off their qualifiers for next year’s Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) unbeaten following a 3-0 victory over Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Tuesday.

Victor Osimhen was the toast of the Super Eagles, scoring one and assisting another as Nigeria finished with 14 points, top of Group L.

Osimhen opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when he raced on to a through ball before chipping it over the advancing keeper.

The Super Eagles doubled their tally in the 50th minute when Etebo Oghenekaro adjusted his body well inside the box to shoot low past the keeper after being set up by Osimhen who picked up a cross from Alex Iwobi.

Nigeria sealed the game with seven minutes left when two substitutes combined, Henry Onyekuru teeing up Paul Onuachu who set himself up with the first touch before volleying past the keeper with his second.

Three –time champions Nigeria soared high in concluding their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series with a commanding 3-0 defeat of the Crocodiles of Lesotho at an upgraded and effervescent Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr rested first choice goalie Maduka Okoye and started Tyronne Ebuehi at right back instead of Olaoluwa Aina, Oghenekaro Etebo started in place of Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and Alex Iwobi picked shirt ahead of Henry Onyekuru after the Everton defender tested negative to COVID-19, days after he was said to have been positive in Benin Republic.

Yet, the flow of the squad was not in any way affected as they started in top gear, with Turkey –based Etebo drilling narrowly wide of the far post in the 8th minute following a good pass from the nimble –footed Samuel Chukwueze. Five minutes later, Osimhen had the ball in the net after a typical sweet exchange with Kelechi Iheanacho, but it was ruled off-side.

Even as Tumelo Khutlang tried Francis Uzoho from afar and the slippery Teboho Sello danced past Ebuehi and squared into the box, the Eagles looked firm on the ground, and in the 22nd minute, Osimhen, benefitting from a well –placed lob from Kelechi Iheanacho, outfoxed goalkeeper Moerane Sekhoane for Nigeria’s first goal.

Chukwueze, Iheanacho and Osimhen threatened as the game wore on, but at the other end, Uzoho had to be alert as Thabo Lesaoana picked the far angle from a free kick 22 yards out.

Five minutes into the second half, Etebo made it two for Nigeria following a counter attack orchestrated by Wilfred Ndidi and ended with Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen routing the Lesotho rearguard for the energetic midfielder to place the ball beyond Sekhoane.

In the 70th minute, Ndidi spearheaded another fast break and conscripted Osimhen and Iheanacho into his plan, but the Crocodiles cleared their lines even after Sekhoane had been beaten.

Substitute Paul Onuachu, scorer of the only goal against Benin Republic in Porto Novo on Saturday, lashed in the third goal in the 83rd minute as the Eagles swept forward once more, taking Sekhoane completely unaware.

The Eagles finished the campaign with a runaway 14 points, winning home-and-away against Benin Republic and Lesotho and only dropping points against Sierra Leone.

Next up for the Eagles is the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying race, which starts at the end of May.