Chelsea winger Victor Moses won and then converted a penalty to give Nigeria a 1-0 win in Poland on Friday in a World Cup warm-up match.
There were also victories for two more of Africa’s World Cup hopefuls, as Tunisia beat Iran 1-0 and Morocco overcame Serbia 2-1.
Elsewhere, Senegal who is also Russia-bound drew 1-1 with Uzbekistan and Egypt, who will also be at the World Cup, suffered a late 2-1 defeat to Portugal.
Nigeria’s Victor Moses earned the controversial penalty against Poland and then calmly stroked the ball into the corner of the net as Polish goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski barely moved in Wroclaw.
The result will be a huge boost to Nigerian confidence following this victory over a team ranked sixth in the world, 46 places above the Super Eagles.
It was the second notable friendly scalp for Gernot Rohr’s men after a 4-2 triumph over 2014 World Cup runners-up Argentina last year.
Nigeria faces the South Americans again during in the group stage in Russia, along with Croatia and Iceland.
Polish star Robert Lewandowski was foiled by the woodwork after eight minutes and had a close-range shot blocked by young goalkeeper Francis Uzoho in the second half.
Morocco was another World Cup qualifier to win in Europe with Khalid Boutaib netting the decisive goal on 40 minutes in a 2-1 win over Serbia in the Italian city of Turin.
Khalid Boutaib scored Morocco’s second goal in their victory over Serbia.
A Hakim Ziyech penalty put the Atlas Lions ahead but Dusan Tadic equalized for Serbia, who have not qualified for Russia.
Tunisia gave first caps to three France-born players – defenders Ellyes Skhiri and Yohan Benalouane, and midfielder Seif-Eddine Khaoui – as they beat Iran 1-0 in Rades.
The trio was eligible because their parents are Tunisian and officials reacted to criticism by saying “they were casting their net wide to ensure all the conditions for (World Cup) success”.
The clash was decided by a Milad Mohammadi own-goal after 71 minutes.
Senegal started with an experimental team that lacked star attacker Sadio Mane and had to come from behind to draw 1-1 with Uzbekistan in Moroccan city Casablanca.
Otabek Shukurov converted a first-half penalty and Moussa Konate equalized midway through the second half after slick passing gave him a close-range opportunity.
In friendlies involving African teams who will not be at the World Cup, Mali drew 1-1 with Japan in Belgium and The Gambia were held 1-1 at home by the Central African Republic.
Abdoulaye Diaby scored off a late first-half penalty for the Malians, who were deprived of victory by a late Shoya Nakajima goal.
The Gambia protested in vain that the Central African Republic leveler by Foxi Kethevoama 15 minutes from time entered the net via the side netting.
Assan Ceesay had put the Gambians ahead just before the hour in Bakau, firing a rebound into the net after a penalty had been parried.
A further eight friendlies involving African teams are scheduled for Saturday, including the Ivory Coast against Togo in France and Zambia at home to South Africa.
– BBC
