The game which was played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo saw the visitors draw first blood through Motlomelo Mkhawanazi in the 56th minute off a corner.

Semi Ajayi in the 67th minute came to Nigeria’s rescue with a fine header after being left unmarked in the box.

The Super Eagles were, however, not able to get a winner with several attempts unyielding.

The result leaves Nigeria with one point in the group alongside Lesotho, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Benin Republic and South Africa – the other two teams left in the group – are yet to play their first game with both sides to square it out on Saturday.

The Jose Pesiero-led side will now turn their attention to their second fixture against the Warriors of Zimbabwe billed for Sunday, November 19 at the Huye Stadium, Butare.

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The Napoli striker, who was nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award earlier this week, put Nigeria in the lead before he added two more goals in the second period as Jose Peseiro’s team entertained the Uyo crowd to a spectacle.

Peseiro, who renewed his contract earlier in the week, fielded the usual suspects in attack, while resting vice-captain William Troost-Ekong for Bruno Onyemaechi.

It took just 14 minutes for Osimhen to get the crowd jumping as he headed into an unguarded net from Ademola Lookman’s corner kick.

The Atalanta winger doubled the lead on 27 minutes with a fine solo effort before a second half goals glut.

Awoniyi made it three with a drilled shot into the corner before Osimhen scored twice in quick succession — a penalty and poked finish.

The hat-trick takes Osimhen’s tally in the qualifiers to 10 goals, making him the highest goalscorer of the series.

Samuel Chukwueze, a substitute, scored the final goal to seal an easy victory for the superb Eagles.

The win confirms the Super Eagles as Group A winners with an unassailable 15 points from six matches.

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The NFF has equally asked the two warring leaders, Vincent Okumagba and Rev. Samuel Ikpea to step down with immediate effect to pave way for fresh elections, just as it called on the President General of the body, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo to also quit honourably.

But in a reaction, Ladipo, who is the chairman of the Board of Trustees, said the Supporters Club was not a government property, adding that it was wrong for the NFF to dictate how it should run its affairs.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick said in Lagos that there seemed to be irreconcilable differences between the two groups, adding that such unhealthy situation could lead to bad result for the Eagles in Uyo.

“I have made it clear that the Supporters Club should not come to Uyo for this match on Saturday. I have also told Ladipo to resign and conduct a fresh election. The two warring leaders, Ikpea and Okumagba should also resign because we can’t continue to work with factional leaders,” Pinnick said.

On his part, Okumagba said “I have not heard of such directive from the NFF, while Ladipo said “If the NFF says we should not come to Uyo for the match, we will stay away, but I want whoever is giving such directive to know that the Supporters Club is a non-governmental organisation. It is registered with the CAC and we have been paying our monthly subscription for the past 62 years.”

The call by the NFF for fresh election, it was learnt, has prompted the leaders, including Ladipo to call for an emergency congress today(Thursday) in Lagos.

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