WCQ: Nigeria record first away win against Zambia

The Super Eagles of Nigeria got off to a bright start in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign as they defeated Zambia 2-1 to pick up their first ever away win against the Chipolopolo.

Premier League duo of Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho scored in the 33rd and 43rd minute respectively to hand Nigeria a comfortable lead going into the break.

However, a fine finish from Zambia's Mbesuma in the 70th minute set up a tense finished to the game, but Nigeria were able to hold on to claim all three points and move top in CAF qualifying Group B.

Read our live coverage below.

Below is our live coverage of the 2018 World Cup qualifier between Zambia and Nigeria.

90+3' FT: Zambia 1 - 2 Nigeria. The Super Eagles go top of Group B with 3 points.

92' Nigeria Sub! Shehu Abdullahi IN, Ogenyi Onazi OUT

90' Three minutes of added time to be played. Tensed moments at the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

88' Yellow card! Mikel is booked for kicking the ball away. Seconds after, Kalaba shoots wide.

85' CHANCE! Musa cuts in and curls one in but goalkeeper Mweene parries away. Nice attempt!

82' Double Sub! Zambia! Kola IN, Tembo OUT. Nigeria! Musa IN, Moses OUT

80' We are into the final ten minutes of the game. Nigeria are sitting deep and trying to soak the pressure the Zambians are throwing at them.

75' The Zambia fans are cheering their team to get a second goal. Are we going to see another goal in this game?

72' Substitution Nigeria! Ideye OUT, Esiti IN

70' GOALLLL! Mbesuma pulls one back for Zambia from close range after Omeruo fumbled a header. Game on!

68' BIG CHANCE' Ikeme makes a fine save to deny Mwanza from close range.

64' Omeruo collides with Troost-Ekong and the latter drops down in the box with his hands on his face but he immediately picks himself up and action continues.

60' BIG CHANCE! Again Ikeme saves from Kalaba after Zambia danger man did well to beat Ndidi in the left hand flank.

59' BIG CHANCE! Mikel produces a spectacular volley from long range but goalkeeper Mweene saves well. What a chance!

57' So close! A ball from the right flank almost drops kindly for Tembo but he is inches away and ball rolls out of play.

56' CHANCE! Nice exchange of passes between Iheanacho and Iwobi but the latter's shot is well saved by Mweene.

55' HALF CHANCE! Mbesuma weak shot on target is easily picked up by Ikeme.

53' Game starting to get very physical as we see some strong tackles from both teams.

48' Substitution! Zambia make their first change. Mtonga IN, Chama OUT.

46' Zambia get the second half underway. Can they find a way back into this game?

45+1' HALF TIME: Zambia 0 - 2 Nigeria

45' One minute of added time to be played in the first half.

43' GOALLLLL! Iheanacho scores a beauty. He rounds goalkeeper Mweene after played through on goal, before cooling slotting home from a tight corner with three Zambians on the line. What a goal!

39' WHAT A SAVE! Ikeme produces a fine save to keep out Kalaba's goal bound header from six yards. From the rebound, the Zambian skipper is booked for diving.

35' HALF CHANCE! Iheanacho shoots wide after being picked out by Mikel.

33' GOALLLL! Iwobi volleys into the net after dreadful defending from the Zambians.

31' A mix up in Nigeria midfield allows Zambia break away but Kalaba's attempt is off target.

26' BIG CHANCE! Moses Simon, who has had a bright start to this game does well to beat his marker at the left flank. But his effort goes well over the bar with the goal at his mercy. The Nigerian bench is furious because they felt he could have passed the ball to a better placed Ideye.

23' CHANCE! Zambian's no 10 man Tembo cuts inside and shoots but Ikeme gathers easily. Nice attempt!

18' HALF CHANCE' Zambia break away at the left flank and ball finds Mbesuma in the box. However, the big striker's decides to pass when he could have made an attempt on goal and the chance goes begging.

15' WHAT A MISS! Iwobi picks out Ideye with a brilliant pass but the Olympiacos striker shoots wide from close range. However, the linesman saves Ideye's blushes as his flag his up for an offside call.

11' HALF CHANCE' Zambia's skipper Kalaba tries a shot from long range but Ikeme gathers easily. Both teams beginning to settle down.

8' Again Moses Simon's set-piece troubles the Zambia defense but the ball is scrambled away for safety. Bright start from the Super Eagles.

 5' HALF CHANCE! Moses Simon tests goalkeeper Mweene from a freekick but the keeper is up to the task and pushes out for a corner. From the resulting corner, Zambia clear their lines.

3' WOODWORK! Zambia! Tembo's cross at the right flank looks to be going in but goalkeeper Ikeme's touch pushes it unto the top of the cross bar as it goes out for a corner. The Nigeria keeper could have done better there.

3' A big scare for the host as Zambia loses the ball in their half but Moses Simon's first touch lets him down and goalkeeper Mweene easily gathers.

1' Nigeria get this World cup qualifier underway. The Eagles are on their traditional white jersey while the host Zambia have their traditional green jersey.

Starting Line ups

Nigeria: 1 Ikeme Carl Onora 3 Elderson Echiejire 4 Kenneth Josiah Omeruo 5 William Paul Ekong 8 Brown Ideye 10 John Obi Mikel 11 Moses Daddy Simon 15 Kelechi Promise Iheanacho 17 Ogenyi Eddy Onazi 18 Alexander Chuka Iwobi 21 Onyinye Wilfred Ndidi

Substitutes: 2 Mohammed Musa 6 Uche Henry Agbo 7 Ahmed Musa 9 Godwin Obaje 12 Abdullah Shehu 13 Chisom Charles Egbuchunam 15 Kingsley Madu 16 Ikechukwu Vincent Ezenwa 19 Anderson Esiti 20 Jamiu Alimi Nosakhare Emmanue Igiebor 23 Emmanuel Shinkut Daniel

Coach: Gernot Rohr

Zambia: 16 Kennedy Mweene 12 Kabaso Chongo 3 Fackson Kapumbu 4 Adrian Chama 13 Stopilla Sunzu 19 Nathan Sinkala 17 Rainford Kalaba 10 Fwayo Tembo 11 Chisamba Lungu 9 Collins Mbesuma 8 Winston Kalengo

Substitutes: 1 Jacob Banda 7 Clatous Chama 5 George Chilufya Ziyo Tembo 21 Misheck Chaila 6 Simon Silwimba 18 Rodgers Kola 14 Jackson Mwanza 15 Kondwani Mtonga

Coach: Wedson Nyirenda

Preview of the match

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup in Russia on Sunday, October 9, against a side they have never beaten away from home, the Chipolopolo stars of Zambia.

In six encounters from 1973, the best the Super Eagles have gotten were 0-0 results in 1978 and 1997 in Nations Cup qualifiers.

This is the final phase of the qualifiers and only one team from Group B will secure the ticket to Russia.

However, the two teams would be fired up to make it to Russia having both missed out on the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

But while Zambia will largely rely on the experience of Mamelodi Sundowns’ Kennedy Mweene, Lille defender Stoppila Sunzu and TP Mazembe duo of Rainford Kalaba and Nathan Sinkala to do the damage, Super Eagles will hope to fly with the red-hot form of Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho and the experience of John Obi Mikel.

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Nigeria has a narrow edge on head-to-head with six wins to Zambia’s five in 16 meetings with both teams settling for draw on five occasions. But in competitive games, there is a clearer advantage, as Nigeria has won five of 12.

Both countries are also under new management, Gernot Rohr for Nigeria and Wedson Nyirenda, who will be making his debut as Zambia’s coach.

The Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola will be the grand setting for these two power houses of African football as Legit.ng will be on ground to bring you minute-by-minute account of the encounter. Kick off time is 1.30pm Nigerian time.