Nigeria stayed firmly on course to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia after Victor Moses proved to be the key man in their 4-0 demolition of reigning African Champions Cameroon at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo on Friday.
The Indomitable Lions started on the front foot and troubled the Nigerian defence on a number of occasions with Eagles goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa called to action a couple of times in the opening minutes.
But the Super Eagles gradually grew into the game and started to cause problems for Cameroon around the 18th minute after some good play by Wilfred Ndidi and Obi Mikel setup Moses on the edge of the area, but the Chelsea wing back blazed his shot high and wide.
Nigeria continued to dominate and, after having a goal ruled out for an offside, were soon rewarded with the opener in the 29th minute which came via Odion Ighalo who found the far corner of the opposition goal after being played through by Mikel.
Seven minutes later, the Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa saved Moses Simon’s close range strike brilliantly to keep his side in the game but he was unable to stop Mikel from scoring in the 41st minute which ensured that the hosts ended the first half with a two goal advantage.
Cameroon did not improve after the break and the home side were immediately back on the accelerator. Victor Moses, who came close to scoring in the first half, finished off beautiful counter attacking move five minutes before the hour mark to make it 3-0.
The victory was then wrapped up by Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho who came off the bench to head in a Ogenyi Onazi cross from close range capping off a dominant display from the Eagles.
The result cements Nigeria’s position at the top of group B with nine points from three matches and they will surely qualify should they defeat the Cameroonians again in the return leg on Monday.
