Ighalo's hat-trick dismantles Libya in Uyo

The Super Eagles of Nigeria Saturday evening thrashed Libya 4-nil in the African Cup of Nations qualifier played in Uyo, with Odion Ighalo scoring all the goals.

The Eagles took an early lead in the 2nd minute, when Libyan goalkeeper, Abdaula, fouled goal-bound Odion Ighalo and the leading striker converted the resultant penalty to boost the Eagles' confidence.

However, the Eagles thereafter took their feet off the pedal as the Libyans grew in confidence and almost got the equaliser in the 12th minute, but for Francis Uzoho, who was called to make an audacious save.

Motasem Sabbou had beat Shehu Abdullahi to make a cross into the Nigerian goal area but Mohamed Abdussalam’s header was brilliantly stopped by the Elche goalkeeper, whose reflexes led to his parrying the shot from a Libyan striker to safety.

The first half ended with a plethora of chances missed by both teams, especially Samuel Kalu, who blew away the chance of giving Nigeria the second lead in the 33 minute. He found his way in the Libyan half, beat Ahmed Eltarbi before aiming waywardly at goal, instead of feeding captain Ahmed Musa to wreak havoc

The second half resumed with more hostility, but it was Ighalo who made the difference. Some good work from Ben Ali saw Nigeria panic slightly at the back, but Alex Iwobi fed Odion Ighalo who slotted past goalkeeper goalkeeper Abdaula for his brace in the 56th minute.

China-based Ighalo completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute. He fired into the net after Ahmed Eltarbi goofed Ahmed Musa's cross and was subsequently replaced by Isaac Success.

Nigeria continued to ease their way to victory with Samuel Kalu finding the back of the net. He got the ball outside the Libyans' 18-yard box from Henry Onyekuru before curling a ferocious shot past Mohamed Abdaula to end the match at 4-0, with Nigeria going second in Group E ahead of their return leg in Sfax, Tunisia on Tuesday next week.

Comments

N-Power monitors: Minister tenders apology, assures payment in 72hrs

Monitors of N-Power are expected to receive payments for the months of March and April, 2020 within the next 72 hours, while the process of May is on-going. This was disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, in a statement made available to Paulokahblog in Abuja Tuesday. In the statement signed by the Deputy Director Information, Rhoda Ishaku Iliya, the minister said all approvals have been made and processes for payment triggered. She stated that the delay for the payment was due to the change in government policy of migration from the Remita platform system to the GIFMIS system of payment, which requires offloading the beneficiaries into the new system before finally uploading, reviewing and final payment by the Social Investment Programme (SIP). The minister regretted any inconveniences caused by the delay towards the payment of the monitors of N-Power, who have proven their mant...

Don't quit by Edgar Albert Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, when the road you're trudging seems all uphill, when the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh, when care is pressing you down a bit - rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns. As everyone of us sometimes learns. And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup; and he learned too late when the night came down, how close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt, and when you never can tell how close you are, it may be near when it seems afar; so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - it's when things seem...

Stop inflicting economic hardship on Ebonyians with tax demands, ex-SSG implores Umahi

Former Secretary to the State Government of Ebonyi State, Professor Benard Odoh, has implored the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, to desist from inflicting economic hardship on Ebonyians. In an open letter he made available to Paulokahblog Friday morning, Odoh said that, "as a way of cushioning the devastating effects of the covid-19 pandemic on Ebonyi’s struggling economy, there is urgent need to jettison the collection of tenement rates/ground rents from landlords, excessive/forceful drive for quarry haulage levies and waiving of personal income taxes". Odoh regretted that, despite the efforts of the state government in policing its borders against the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebonyi State, as of May 21, has recorded 13 cases and expressed hope that the situation would not get worse in the state in particular and Nigeria in general, even as he pledged support for the state government in ensuring that the active cases are managed successfully "to t...

Paul Okah

Search This Blog