Odion Ighalo lone strike sees Super Eagles beat Burundi 1-0 in the Group B opener at the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup Nations at Alexandria Stadium on Saturday night.
Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr has dropped his usual number, one goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, Chinese Super League striker and Ahmed Musa from the starting eleven by bringing in Daniel Akpeyi and Paul Onuachu Jamiu Collins has taken ill, so Ola Aina will play at left-back but Villarreal winger, Samuel Chukwueze, who had an outstanding season in LaLiga, takes the place of Samuel Kalu, who collapsed in training on Friday.
Ighalo make a 73 minutes second-half substitute appearance for Onuachu but the 30-year-old Shanghai Greenland Shenhua goal poacher break the deadlock four minutes later gives Super Eagles bright start in Alexandria.
The first half had Nigeria posing much of the threat, but failing to convert.
Samuel Chukwueze was the talisman for the Super Eagles but lack of finishing from Paul Onuachu and Alex Iwobi pegged Nigeria down.
Burundi did not express any respect as they called goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi to duty on more than one occasion. Nsabiyumva Frederic and Abdoul Fiston were the dangermen for the players in red.
Defender Shehu Abdullahi suffered a hamstring and was stretchered off, forcing coach Gernot Rohr to make an early change.
On resumption from the break, Rohr observed that captain John Obi Mikel was not at his best, and subsequently took him off for Musa, whose introduction brought more bytes to the frontline of the Super Eagles.
As the game entered it's final 20 minutes, Onuachu was taken off for Ighalo, who later opened scoring four minutes after coming in, thanks to former Chelsea defender Ola Aina superb back-heel.
The final 10 minutes was full of action, but the scoreline remained the same as Nigeria sealed a 1-0 victory over Burundi.
By Olamide Oyetunji
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