2019 AFCON qualifier: Seychelles 0-3 Nigeria - As it happened

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Sep 08, 2018. 16:18

Welcome to as-it-happened coverage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualifier between the Seychelles and Nigeria from Stade Linite in Victoria.

Line-ups

Seychelles: Dave Mussard, Jones Joubert, Bertrand Esther, Benoit Marie, Jude Nancy, Warren Mellie, Carl, Colin Esther, Darren Pamod, Nelson Laurence, Perry Monnaie
Subs: Jerome Dingwall, Elijah Tamboo, Gervais Waye-Hive, Kiren Sinon, Colyn Francourt, Juninho Mathiot, Colin Bibi

Nigeria: Francis Uzoho, Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun, Chidozie Awaziem, Brian Idowu, Ogenyi Onazi, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa, Samuel Kalu, Odion Ighalo
Subs: Ikechukwu Ezenwa, John Ogu, Oghenekaro Etebo, Simeon Nwankwo, Semi Ajayi, Joel Obi, Henry Onyekuru

Commentary
All times CAT

90+4' - Full time - Nigeria win 3-0 and claim their first three points in Group E. The Seychelles remain bottom of the log after a second successive loss.

90' - There will be three minutes of added time.

87' - Substitution - Sinon replaces Colin Esther in the hosts' last swap.

86' - Yellow card - Seychelles' Carl booked for a shirt pull on Etebo.

85' - Substitution - Onyekuru replaces Kalu in Nigeria's last change.

83' - Substitution - Tamboo replaces Monnaie for Seychelles.

81' - Less than 10 minutes of regulation time remaining.

78' - This will be Nigeria's first three points in Group E and bring them level on the log with South Africa and Libya (who are currently drawing 0-0 in Durban).

74' - Substitution - Ajayi replaces Awaziem, who was stretchered off with injury.

72' - Musa sends a shot from the edge of the box just wide! Nigeria would love a couple more goals to further boost their goal difference.

68' - Past the midway point of the second half. Seychelles throwing more men forward now, but you get the feeling they'll be picked off at the back if they aren't careful.

64' - Substitution - Etebo replaces Iheanacho in Nigeria's first change.

63' - So close to a goal back for the Seychelles! Nigeria deal poorly with a long punt out of defence, Monnaie beats the 'keeper to the ball and sends it just wide of the target!

60' - Substitution - Bibi replaces Laurence up front for the hosts.

59' - Yellow card - Iheanacho cautioned for a cynical foul to prevent a counter attack.

57' - GOAL! Seychelles 0-3 Nigeria - Igahlo easily converts from the spot to put Nigeria three up.

56' - Musa strikes on goal from a tight angle, but Mussard saves well with his legs! Now Kalu is fouled by Collins Esther and it's a penalty to the Super Eagles!

54' - Omeruo with some good defending to come across and challenge Monnaie down the Pirates' right flank. The hosts are finally showing some more attacking ambition.

50' - Yellow card - Seychelles' Monnaie cautioned for the use of an elbow in an aerial challenge with Balogun.

48' - Seychelles with a good attacking opportunity from a free kick on their right flank, but it ends with Bertrand Esther heading well off target.

46' - Back underway in the second half. No changes from either team at the break.

45+2' - Half time - Nigeria 2-0 up at the break and completely in control. The hosts have offered little threat in attack and will need something really special in the second stanza to get back in the game.

45' - Yellow card - Omeruo the first into the book for tripping Pamod.

42' - Idowu looks to sneak in behind the Seychelles defence but he's flagged offside.

40' - Closing in on half time, this already looks like being a relatively easy afternoon for Nigeria.

36' - Almost 3-0, as Igahlo beats the offside trap, lobs the goalkeeper but sees the ball hit the top of the crossbar before being cleared by the defence.

34' - GOAL! Seychelles 0-2 Nigeria - Iheanacho hits the post with a shot direct from a free kick, but the rebound falls kindly for Awaziem, who coolly tucks the ball home to put the Super Eagles two goals to the good!

31' - Past the half-hour mark, Nigeria just one goal up but well in control of this AFCON qualifier.

29' - Uzoho finally called into some action, coming off his line to claim a looping cross from the Seychelles' right flank.

26' - Igahlo flagged offside again. The Nigerians haven't quite 'clicked' in attack just yet.

23' - Ighalo sees a chance to double the lead stymied by the goalkeeper, but he was offside anyway.

20' - Iheanacho works space for a shot from the edge of the box, but sends it high and wide.

18' - The goal has only bred more confidence for Nigeria, who look in a very attacking mood this afternoon.

15' - GOAL! Seychelles 0-1 Nigeria - The Super Eagles go a goal up through a brilliant strike from Musa! His long-range, left-footed volley hits the underside of the bar and goes in via goalkeeper Mussard. It's credited to the Nigerian forward for now, but could well be amended to an OG.

12' - A couple of quick corner kicks for Nigeria, which ends with Onazi's tame shot going wide of the mark. The Super Eagles already dominating proceedings.

11' - Kalu shows great pace to burst into space in the box, but his pull-back from the left by-line is put behind for a corner kick.

9' - Nigeria with the first corner kick of the match. It's worked short, before Musa is quickly closed down outside the penalty area.

6' - Awaziem gets free down the right and floats in a cross, but it's beyond the reach of Ighalo and his fellow forwards.

5' - Nigeria looking comfortable in possession early on.

4' - Both teams looking to find their footing and rhythm on the artificial pitch at Stade Linite.

1' - Kick-off - We are underway in Victoria! The Seychelles wear all-red with white trim, while Nigeria are in their famous lime-green and white strip from the 2018 World Cup.

14h25 - The teams are out on the pitch meeting local dignitaries, and the national anthems will follow. Kenyan referee Davies Omweno is taking charge of this match in Victoria.

14h15 - This will be the first-ever meeting between the Pirates and the Super Eagles. Their return game in Nigeria is set for the weekend of March 22-24 next weekend.

14h00 - Half an hour to kick-off. Remember that Nigeria come into this game looking to bounce back from their surprise 2-0 loss at home to South Africa in June last year. The Seychelles also lost their Group E opener, going down 5-1 away to Libya.