It needed a 78th minute super strike by Manchester City ace Kelechi Iheanacho for Nigeria to beat goalkeeper Aishi Manula and Tanzania in a final AFCON qualifier in Uyo tonight.
The Super Eagles created a rash of chances in this dead rubber game, but wasteful finishing and the brilliance of former Tanzania U20 star Manula ensured they had to wait till late to snatch their first win at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium.
It was a winning start for new coach Gernot Rohr, but he certainly knows his team will have to sharpen their shooting boots in time for next month’s World Cup qualifier in Zambia.
Outstanding Tanzania goalkeeper Aishi Manula coupled with a wasteful attack ensured it was 0-0 between hosts Nigeria and the Taifa Stars in a final AFCON qualifier in Uyo.
The Super Eagles created a rash of chances in the first 45 minutes, but somehow they could not make any of them count at an arena they lost to Uganda and could only manage a 2-2 draw with South Africa.
Tanzania started brightly, but when Nigeria took over the attacking initiative in front of a sold-out crowd the question then was - when will the Eagles get on the scoreboard?
In the 12th minute, Mikel released Ahmed Musa, but the Leicester City star failed to tuck away the opening.
On 24 minutes, Tanzania shot stopper Manula denied Iheanacho, before Victor Moses fluffed another chance two minutes later.
Manula then dived on Victor Moses feet inside his six-yard box in the 33rd minute and four minutes later, he failed to deliver the final shot or pass as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Three minutes from half time, Manula pulled off a big save to prevent Ighalo.
It was a similar story in the second half with Mikel denied by Manula after 59 minutes and Watford striker Ighalo struggled again in a Nigeria shirt, before 19-year-old Iheanacho conjured a wonder strike 12 minutes from time.
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