Nigeria In 2 - 0 Lead Against Zambia At First Half

• 69' SAAAAVE FROM IKEME! Zambia move forward in packs through the middle and it is John Ching’andu who eventually picks up the ball on the edge of the box before beautifully opening his stride with a curled strike to the bottom corner, but he is thwarted by the Nigeria keeper who puts behind for a corner.

• 66' The Nigeria defence finally manage to get a bit of respite at the back after a 25-minute Zambia siege towards their goal through Kalaba and Mbesuma. It is Carl Ikeme who helps out his compatriots with a simple save
• 63' Another opportunity for Mwanza! Again, he beats his marker deep down the right wing before swinging a cross that goes out of play. Goal kick to Nigeria
• 60' Carl Ikeme almost got punished for coming out of his line but he is very lucky Sunzu’s bicycle kick missed the goal mouth by some inches. Zambia are not giving up as they feel they can come back in this game.
• 57' Nigeria continue to pepper the Zambia penalty area with crosses and shots, with the latter mostly coming from John Obi Mikel. The Chelsea man has been desperate to find a goal since his installment as Super Eagles captain. He floats a shot towards the Zambian goal and goalkeeper Mweene makes an acrobatic save.
• 56'

  Winston Kalengo
  Jackson Mwanza
• 54' CHANCE!!! Collin Mbsesuma could have done better with that ball. He finds himself in the penalty area of the Super Eagles but shoots tamely at goal with goalkeeper Ikeme making a simple catch.
• 51' The Super Eagles are dictating the pace in this half as there is a smooth transition between the defence, midfield and attack. Goalkeeper Ikeme has been brilliant in this game and had denied Zambia the chance of taking an early lead.
• 48'

  Adrian Chama
  Kondwani Mtonga
• 48' The Chipolopolo make their first change with Kondwani Mtonga coming in for Adrian Chama. Well, that is needful now as the hosts attempt a comeback in this encounter.
• 46' And we're underway once again!
• The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.
• It's safe to say it's been plain sailing for Nigeria thus far. The Super Eagles have, unsurprisingly, been brilliant with their first two goals in the first 42 minutes of the game. After suffering a terrible start to the evening, the hosts switched to a back four and tightened up slightly, but the visitors continued to dominate the game and head into the half-time break with the victory all but wrapped up.
• 45' Zambia are able to push out of their own half of the pitch for one of the first times since the early moments of the game.
• 42'

  Brown Ideye
• 42'

  Kelechi Iheanacho
• 42' Goooal!!! Kelechi Iheanacho makes a mince meat of the Zambians defence to put the Super Eagles two goals up. Fantastic assist from Brown Ideye as we move closer to half time
• 39'

  Rainford Kalaba
• 38' What a save from Carl Ikeme! Rainford Kalaba well saved to deny the Chipolopolo an equaliser.
• 33' Goal!!! Nigeria take the lead.  Alex Iwobi slams in from close range to put the Super Eagles ahead
• 32'

  Alex Iwobi
• 30' Once again, Iheanacho plays an important role in a dangerous attacking move from Nigeria. He weaves into the penalty area before teeing up Brown Ideye who fails is dispossessed
• Nigeria XI: Carl Ikeme, Mikel Obi, Ndidi Wilfred, Elderson Echiejile, William Ekong-Troost, Kenneth Omeruo, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Ogenyi Onazi, Brown Ideye, kelechi Iheanacho
• Zambia XI: Kennedy Mweene, Kabaso Chongo, Stoppila Sunzu, Simon Silwamba, George Chilufya, Rainford Kalaba, John Ching’andu, Nathan Sinkala, Rodrick Kwabe, Jackson Mwanza, Lewis Macha
• The Zambians have not lost in this venue for so long, it’s no surprise that they are the heavy favourites to leave with a win today. The two nations have played one another on 16 previous occasions, with their last meeting, a 1-1 draw in a friendly match
• Full of confidence after their 3-0 victory against Plateau United, Nigeria headed into the World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign with high hopes of topping Group B. They are in dire need of victory to fancy their chances of making it to Russia 2018 ahead of Cameroon, Zambia and favourites, Algeria
• Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s World Cup 2018 qualifying game between Zambia and Nigeria at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola.

Source: Goal.com