The Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the final round of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after a 1-1 draw with the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Tuesday.
Coach Gernot made a change to the Nigerian side that defeated Liberia 0-2 in Tangier replacing Kelechi Iheanacho with Jude Odion Ighalo.
The Eagles fly as early as first minute when Moses Simon’s cross was erroneously headed in the path of Victor Osimhen who made no mistake with his strike to give Nigeria the lead.
Cape Verde who needed a win to qualify, replied with a seven minutes stunner as Stopira got away from William Troost Ekong then stabs in from Rocha Santos’ corner-kick to balanced the game.
The Blue Sharks’ coach in the second half piled up pressure on the Super Eagles defence with five attacking substitutions as Willy Semedo, Nuno Borges, Gilson Tavares, Nenass, and Vagner replaced Jeffry Fortes, Jamiro Gregory Monteiro, Patrick Andrade, Rocha Santos, and Moreira Fernandez respectively.
The Nigerians qualified for the final round (playoffs) of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after finishing top of the group with 13 points ahead of Cape Verde’s 11 points.
QUALIFIED for the play-offs:
Seeded:
1⃣ 🇸🇳 Senegal
2⃣ 🇲🇦 Morocco
3⃣ 🇩🇿 Algeria
4⃣ 🇹🇳 Tunisia
5⃣ 🇳🇬 Nigeria
Unseeded:
6⃣ 🇪🇬 Egypt
7⃣ 🇨🇲 Cameroon
8⃣ 🇲🇱 Mali
9⃣ 🇬🇭 Ghana
🔟 🇨🇩 DR Congo
The draws will take place on 18 December 2021 and matches will kick off in March 2022.
