* Osimhen’s four goals takes his tally to 15 for Nigeria
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Super Eagles have redeemed their image in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 10-0 mauling of hapless Sao Tome & Principe in Agadir, Morocco.
The victory has moved Eagles to the top of Group A on six points ahead of Guinea Bissau who clash with Sierra Leone in the other match of the group later Monday evening.
Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, scored four out of the 10 goals.
After a not-too-convincing win over the Leone Stars in Abuja last Thursday, Super Eagles promised to redeem their image with minnow São Tomé & Principe with plenty of goals.
True to their promise, Osimhen kicked off the goals rush barely 10 minutes into the game played on a lush green turf far better than the Abuja stadium.
The Napoli frontman connected home with a header a cross from Moses Simon from the left. Simon was captain of the day in the absence of Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong.
Osimhen and Simon were again involved in Nigeria’s second goal on 28 minutes with Simon now the scorer and Osimhen the provider.
With the clock ticking to half time break, Terem Moffi scored his first Super Eagles goal when he eliminated his marker inside the box before he fired past Eba Viegas in goal post for São Tomé.
Osimhen headed home his second goal of the day three minutes on return from the break in the 48th minute thanks to a cross from the right by Ademola Lookman.
In the 55th minute, Oghenekaro Etebo made it 5-0 for the Eagles when he curled a free kick from the edge of the box.
On the hour, Moffi got his brace when he slotted home a low cross from inside the box by Zaidu Sanusi.
Four minutes later, Lookman made it 7-0 when he fired home after Moffi had been thwarted by the Sao Tome goalkeeper.
Osimhen completed his hat-trick a minute later as he got to the end of a through ball before he stabbed beyond the opposing shot stopper.
He then netted his fourth goal in the 84th minute in a repeat move.
The Napoli striker has now scored 15 goals for Nigeria.
He later struck the post in the closing moments of the encounter.
Substitute Emmanuel Dennis wrapped up the routing in stoppage time when he scored from the penalty spot after he had been brought down inside the box.
