Nigeria’s Super Eagles B (CHAN Eagles) defeated Congo 2-0 in their final group stage game of the 2024 African Nations Championship, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles B returned to action against Congo in their final Group D game at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.
Going into the game both teams had already been knocked out of the CHAN, as they lost their first two games of the competition.
As such, coach Eric Chelle made some changes to his team. Players like Stephen Manyo, Alex Oyowah, Ebenezer Harcourt, and Yusuf Anas, who did not start the first two games, were named in the starting eleven against Congo.
Anas was the highest goalscorer in the Nigeria Premier Football League last season, so it was a surprise that coach Chelle did not deem him good enough to start the first two games against Senegal and Sudan.
The early exchanges were tight, as both teams lacked cohesion and creativity. The Super Eagles failed to create any clear-cut chance.
Nigeria had a few scares, however, as the VAR reviewed two incidences that could have resulted in penalties or a red card. The first half eventually ended goalless.
The second half started the same way as the first. Nigeria and Congo still lacked cohesion and failed to create chances.
However, the CHAN Eagles got their break 11 minutes into the restart, courtesy of Anas. A cross was sent into the area which Sikiru Alimi knocked down for Anas.
The Nasarawa United marksman did not make any mistake from close range, as he calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it 1-0. It was a statement goal for him after starting from the bench in Nigeria’s first two game.
After going a goal down, the Red Devils started piling pressure on the Super Eagles’ defence to level the scoring. But they were not sleek and creative, so the Nigerian defence did not have any serious scare.
The Super Eagles wrapped up the win with a goal from Alimi, who guided a ball from Sodiq Ismaila into the net in the 93rd minute.
Group D’s journey ends here. Check the final standings below.
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The result means that Nigeria will finish third in the group behind Senegal and Sudan.