The Nigerian national team, Super Eagles, has secured a place at next year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, defeating their opponent, the squirrels of Benin Republic 1-0.
Following the victory, the team has ended the squirrels eight years unbeaten run at home in Porto-Novo in any competition and ensured their opponent remain second on the Group L standing.
The goal which decided the match 5 of the qualifiers was scored in the 93rd minutes of the encounter by Paul Onuachu, the Genk football club of Belgium forward.
Onuachu scored the winning goal as the three-time African champions beat Benin Republic 1-0 at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto-Novo.
The West African nation’s qualification which was strengthened by the victory had been cemented before the kick-off after Lesotho and Sierra Leone settled for a 0-0 draw in the other Group L fixture.
Responding to his winning goal, Onuachu assured Nigerians that the team would be going to the competition in Cameroon to lift the trophy.
He said: “I’m just going to say thanks to the nation for the push, they really pushed me to show what I have to show. National team, I did it, I am so happy for the team and for the country,” he told the Super Eagles media
after the game.
“It’s a lot of confidence for a striker to score and I’m very happy. We just have to go there (to the AFCON) and take the gold.”
