AFCON Qualifiers: Osimhen hattrick leads Nigeria to 6-0 win over Sao Tome

Victor Osihmen celebrates after completing his hattrick on Sunday against Sao Tome & Principe. Nigeria won 6-0. (Photo credit: GOAL)

Victor Osimhen bagged another hattrick in the colors of the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo to lead Nigeria to a 6-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe.

The SS Napoli frontman scored four times in the reverse fixture to book Nigeria’s place at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Ivory Coast and needed to add more to his tally as he reaches for the long-standing all-time highest goal scorer record in the country.

Coach Jose Peseiro handed Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi starting shirts, with the Nottingham Forest man also on fire in the English Premier League with three goals and one assist in four games, including one against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Nigeria pummelled the African minnows in the reverse fixture 10-0, and it felt like the Super Eagles had it in them to do it again after an impressive start on Sunday. It didn’t take long for the Napoli man to head home Nigeria’s opener from one of the many corners the hosts had in the first quarter.

Ademola Lookman added the second not long after. The Atalanta of Italy man received it from the captain of the day, Wilfred Ndidi; he danced in and side-footed into the bottom corner beyond the reach of the visitors’ goalkeeper.

The home crowd got pumped with traditional songs of praise to drive the boys to do more, but that was it for the first half. It was noteworthy, however, that Sao Tome and Principe didn’t have any incursions into the Nigerian area for half a year.

Taiwo Awoniyi started the second half with a bang. He received it from Iheanacho, brought the ball down cleanly, and then fired past the goalkeeper to make it 3-0. It was a goal he deserved after lots of hard work in the first half with nothing to celebrate.

Osimhen scored his second of the day and Nigeria’s fourth after the visitors’ goalkeeper hacked him down in the area and he stepped up to convert from the spot. Osimhen sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, as he made it 4-0.

Both coaches made changes, but it was Nigeria that scored again, and this time it was for Osimhen to complete his hattrick. He received brilliantly from substitute Chukwueze and slotted home to make it five for Nigeria.

The goal took Osihmen to 20 goals for Nigeria, and he now ranks fourth on the all-time goal scorers’ list. There was still time for Chukwueze to add the sixth after receiving a pass from debutant Boniface. Nigeria tops the group with 15 points and will be flying the flag in Ivory Coast next year.