Nigeria needed a late Paul Onuachu goal to defeat Benin on Saturday (March 27) having already qualified for next year’s AFCON to be held in Cameroon following Sierra Leone’s draw with Lesotho earlier on.
The strike was Onuachu’s second for the Super Eagles in ten caps and exactly two years and one day after his first in 2019 when he scored on his debut against Egypt.
Not much was expected of the Genk forward in the build-up to the game. He only made the squad due to the unavailability of Moses Simon’s.
The duo of Osimhen and Iheanacho started up top for Nigeria and Onuachu came on for the latter with 20 minutes left on the clock.
He heeded home after the Benin goalkeeper had smarty saved Osimhen’s effort in the box following a corner.
His goal ended the Squirrels’ impressive 8-year unbeaten run on home soil.
The goal will serve as a much-needed boost for Onuachu, considering his struggles with the national team.
Reacting to his heroics, he told the NFF TV: “I’m just going to say, thanks to the nation for the push because they have really pushed me to show what I have to show in the national team. And now I am happy for the team and for the country. It is a lot of confidence for a striker to score, and I’m very happy.”
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