CHAN 2016: Chikatara Gets Hattrick As Nigeria Crush Niger

Abia Warriors star man Chisom Chikatara was the hero as the Super Eagles of Nigeria crushed the Mena of Niger 4 - 1 in a Group C clash at the on-going African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Chikatara scored a hattrick in the second half as Nigeria recorded a convincing victory over their counterpart. Read Legit.ng's coverage below:

While Nigeria will be looking to win the tournament as one of the favourites after a third place finish in 2014, Niger will be hoping to go a step further after they were knocked out via penalty in the quarters final of 2011 edition. The Mena of Niger will also fancy their chances of picking up the trophy against all odds.

The Mena have great memories of the CHAN since their qualification to the 2011 edition which served their breakthrough in international football.

After a first time qualification to continental championship at senior level, Niger went on to qualify for AFCON 2012 and CHAN 2014, which earned them global attention.

The Mena will be hoping to build on this success and upset the Super Eagles as they did to Togo in the qualifiers.

However, Nigeria comes into the competition on the back of excellent performances by their junior teams at continental and global competitions last year. The U-20 and U-23’s were each crowned African champions in their respective continental championships in Senegal, while the U-17 were crowned World champions.

Coincidentally when these two teams clashed in build-up to this championship, Niger had the better of their counterpart as they denied Nigeria place at the 2011 edition in Sudan. Nigeria has however gone on to win four of the last five meetings.

However, Abia Warriors defender Austin Obaroakpo has been suspended for the clash following two yellow cards in the CHAN qualifying games against Burkina Faso in Port Harcourt and Ouagadougou last year.

With the Super Eagles seeking revenge in this competition, this game promises to be a cracker and Legit.ng will be bring you live coverage of the encounter by 5pm (Nigerian Time).

Nigeria XI: Ezenwa, Akas (C), Eze, Alimi, E.Matthew, Onobi, Matthew, Ibenegbu, Aggreh, Adeniji, Okoro.

Niger XI: Alzouma, Inoussa, Amadou, Shehu, Oumarou, Garba Sakou (C), Imaran, Katkore, Salamoun, Koudize.

FULL TIME: Nigeria 4 - 1 Niger. The Super Eagles go top in Group C. Great start for the Sunday Oliseh boys.

90+2: GOALLLLL! Chikatara finally gets his hattrick as he slots home from close range.

90+1: CHANCE! Chikatara misses another big opportunity. He should have had like five goals in this game.

88: Nigeria seems to have done enough to get maximum points as the game gradually winds down.

84: BIG CHANCE! Chikatara almost gets his hattrick but he flashes his effort high after a nice piece of play to beat his marker.

82: GOALLLL! Chikatara strikes again for Nigeria to give the Super Eagles a 2 goal lead again. He taps home after a delightful cross again from Osas Okoro. WHAT A GAME WE ARE HAVING HERE! Two goals in two minutes.

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81: GOALLLL! Adebayor scores with a fine strike to give Niger a lifeline. GAME ON!

77: HALF CHANCE! Sakou tries a long range effort for Niger but it well high over the bar.

75: GOALLLLL!!!!!! Chisom Chikatara with a lovely volley after a delightful cross from Osas Okoro. Nigeria 2 - 0 Niger. He brings down the ball with his chest and fires a thunderous strike into the top right corner of the net. WHAT A GOAL!

70: SUB Nigeria! Ibenegbu OUT, Usman Mohammed IN. Both teams have made all three substitutions.

69: Nigeria come close at the other end as Okoro is released in the left hand flank but his low cross couldn't pick out anyone in the box and Niger clear their lines.

67: BIG CHANCE! Niger come so close to getting the equalizer as Paraissoa was played through on goal. He however delays his shot and is denied a shooting chance with a last minute tackle from Akas. THAT WAS SO CLOSE!

62: Chikatara fires a fierce shot but goalkeeper Alzouma drop down well to save. Aggreh tries to slot home the rebound but he's flagged offside.

61: Chisom Chikatara is brought down in dangerous position. FREEKICK to Nigeria. Ibenegbu and Chikatara standing on this one.

58: SUB Nigeria! Adeniji who created the assist for Osas Okoro's goal is pulled out and on comes Abia Warriors man Chisom Chikatanra!

56: HALF CHANCE! Adebayor flashes a shot wide for the Mena. Nice effort from the new man.

55: Nigeria 1 - 0 Niger. The Mena trying to crawl their way back into this game and have had the better possession of the ball in the last five minutes. The Super Eagles sitting back and containing the pressure.

52: Double Sub for Mena of Niger! Paraissoa Mousaa IN Koudize OUT, Adebayor IN, Shehu OUT. Can they get an equalizer?

49: BIG CHANCE! Ibenegbu swings one in but Eze's header flashes just wide. Nigeria with all the possession at the moment.

46: MORE ON THE GOAL! Ibenegbu plays a long ball to Adeniji who bring the ball down well, he looks up and plays a delightful pass to Osas who volleys home. That was a beauty! Best move from Nigeria in this game.

46: GOALLLLL!!!!!! Osas Okoro opens the scoring for Nigeria just 30 seconds into the second half. Well worked goal!

45+1: HALFTIME! Nigeria 0 - 0 Niger. An entertaining first half but both teams have been poor upfront.

44: HALF CHANCE! Okoro crosses well from the right and the ball finds Adeniji in the box but the big striker couldn't get enough on the ball and heads wide. One minute of added time to be played.

41: HALF CHANCE! Niger, Yousuf fires straight at Ezenwa after a beautiful cross from the right. The Mena trying to beat the Super Eagles on the counter.

37: Coach Sunday Oliseh looking worried on the sideline as Aggreh scuffles another shot wide. The fans singing and calling for a goal.

33: OFFSIDE! Nigeria! It's Prince Aggrey this time. The super Eagles have been caught offside five time already in this game.

30: Nigeria 0 - 0 Niger. Osas Okoro goes close again for the Super Eagles but he flashes his shot well high.

26: Both teams are trying the long ball to pick out their strikers all to no avail. Nigeria still with the better possession.

24: More pressure from the left but again Nigeria is caught offside, this time it Prince Aggreh.

22: OFFSIDE! Nigeria. Osas played through on goal but the linesman has his flag raised for an offside call. Nigeria pilling all the pressure at the moment but it remains goalless.

17: SUB NIGERIA! Alimi OFF, Kalu Orji ON. The Shooting stars man booking in the 9th minutes may have caused Sunday Oliseh's early change.

14: BIG CHANCE! Osas fires wide after a sleek passing football from Nigeria which started with Aggreh on the left flank. The sunshine star man burst forward and plays a nice pass to teammate Adeniji. The big striker finds Osas at the edge of the box but he fires wide.

10: From the freekick, Ezenwa comes out of his line to claim the ball easily. Pure class from the Sunshine star man!

9: Niger gradually gaining momentum and a long ball almost picks out Garba but Alimi sticks a foot to deny the striker a scoring opportunity. However, the Egyptian referee spots a bad tackle and issues a yellow card to Alimi. Freekick to Niger!

5: BIG CHANCE! A nice play between Onobi and Matthew in the right, almost creates a goal scoring chance for the Super Eagles but Matthew's cross is behind Ibenegbu in the box and Niger clear their lines.

3: Niger wins a freekick in a dangerous situation. Starman Garba takes but shoots well wide. Bright start into the game!

2: Nigeria burst away at the far right and a ball finds Sunshine stars man Prince Aggreh. He dazzles his way into the box and wins a corner kick. From the corner, the ball picks out Aggreh but his shot is straight at Alzouma in goal for the Mena of Niger.