Nigeria defeat Mozambique to end 15-game Friendly winless streak
The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated Mozambique 3-2 on Monday evening, to end a 15-game long International Friendly winless streak.
At the Estadio Municipal de Portimao, it was Mozambique who took the lead in the 7th minute when Cattamo tapped a low cross past Francis Uzoho in goal for Nigeria.
That goal will go down in history as Mozambique’s first goal vs Nigeria at Full International level after the Mambas fired blank in this previous four meetings.
Nigeria will press forward and were back on level terms in the 19th minute when OGC Nice forward, Terem Moffi finished off a rebound.
Frank Onyeka then fired the Eagles 2-1up with his first International goal ten minutes later to complete the comeback for Jose Peseiro’s men.
Moses Simon added a third just before the halftime break to hand Nigeria a 3-1 lead vs Mozambique who were reduced to ten-men in the 39th minute for a rash tackle on Joe Aribo by E. Dove.
Despite the numerical advantage, Nigeria failed to extend the scoreline in the second half.
Instead, Mozambique reduced the deficit in the 55th minute through Bangal F.
Nigeria Substitute, Victor Boniface thought he had scored his first International goal in the 84th minute but the flag was up for Offside.
At the expiration of regulation time, it finished Nigeria 3-2 Mozambique, a first International Friendly win for the Super Eagles since March 2019.
In their last friendly match, a late Mohammed Kanno free-kick denied the Eagles victory vs Saudi Arabia as it finished 2-2 on October 13, 2023.
Up Next for the Two-time African Champions is World Cup qualification games vs Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November.
Thereafter, the Super Eagles will prepare to join Africa’s best at the 2023 AFCON to be hosted in Ivory Coast from January 2024.
Already, Nigeria have been drawn alongside Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau in Group A for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Nigeria will be targeting a Fourth AFCON title, their last triumph was in 2013.
