VICTOR OSIMHEN PROVES HIS QUALITY

 VICTOR OSIMHEN PROVES HIS QUALITY 

Nigeria had struggled for goals without Osimhen in the qualifying campaign, scoring just once in each of their opening four games. The Galatasaray striker needed barely 11 minutes to remind fans of his importance to the Super Eagles.

He doubled his tally just before half-time, and could have had at least one more goal. Both goals were typical of the striker, featuring a combination of perfect timing, great positioning, and immaculate technique. For the first, he held his run from Lukman's free kick to arrive just in time at the back post to guide home a half-volley. For the second, he showed determination, stretching every sinew to nick the ball off the defender with an outstretched toe before galloping away and scooping the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

It is exactly the sort of unyielding forward play that Nigeria missed so much in their previous four qualifiers.

But Osimhen's game was not just about his goals. His leadership and desire to help deep in his own territory were also on full display. He was back defending Rwanda free kicks and corners, and urging his teammates to do the same; on one occasion, he almost physically pulled African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman to fall back quickly after a free kick had gone out of play.

Osimhen clearly led from the front as Nigeria's performance embodied what Chelle wants from his players.

The goals moved Osimhen into sole second in Nigeria's all-time scorer's list on 25, two clear of the legendary Segun Odegbami. He is now just 12 goals shy of Rashidi Yekini's 37-goal record for Nigeria.

"I am very happy for the goals," Osimhen said after the game. "Now the focus is on Zimbabwe so we keep going."

Pressure makes Eagles "super"

Having dug themselves into a hole, the Super Eagles players had spent the past week trying to reassure fans that they could pull this chestnut from the fire.

Almost every time they have been faced with pressure, whether in qualifying or in tournaments, the Super Eagles have tended to find a way to elevate their performance -- albeit sometimes they have done so too late.

There is still a lot to play for in this campaign, but victory against Rwanda was non-negotiable for the Super Eagles to keep alive their hopes of qualification.

Few African teams, or even in the world, have the quality of the Super Eagles upfront, but their undoing in recent years has been an inability to match that quality with a fighting display -- especially against less-fancied opposition.

BY JUDITH JOHN AHULE