Eagles Dispatch Burkina Faso 2-0

The Home-based Super Eagles yesterday commenced their journey for the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) on a sound note, beating the Les Etalons of Burkina Faso 2-0 at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium in Port Harcourt in the first leg of the qualifiers.

Last year in South Africa, the Eagles managed to pick a bronze medal, when they defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 in the third-place match, after losing to Ghana 1-4 through penalty shoot-out in the semi.

In yesterday’s qualifier against the visiting Burkina Faso, it took the Eagles 25 minutes to register the first goal, when Yaro Bature struck.

Not ready to give away the ticket, the Les Etalons adjusted their style of play, piling the pressure on Nigeria, but the defence line marshaled by goalkeeper Ezenwa Ikechukwu was equal to the task.

The last time Nigeria and Burkina Faso met was at the finals of 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in Johannesburg, South Africa, where a lone strike by Sunday Mba helped the Stephen Keshi led side lift the trophy.

After leading 1-0 in the first half, coach Sunday Oliseh introduced Warri Wolves striker, Salami Gbolahan in the 51st minute to add more bite to the Eagles’ attack. It paid off in the 77th minutes, when Gbolahan scored from the penalty spot after Bassey Ezekiel Joseph was brought-down inside the area.