CAR 0-2 Nigeria summary: score, goals, highlights | World Cup 2022 qualifying

Well, that's about it from us, thanks for joining us today! We'll be back later on for the Nations League final between Spain and France.

CAR's next two games are both away, at Cape Verde and Liberia, and Raoul Savoy's side will need to win both and hope Nigeria slip up to reach the World Cup finals.

The Super Eagles are now in a dominant position in Group C with nine points and two fixtures remaining, against Liberia (away) and Cape Verde (home), which will be staged in November during the next international break. 

And there's the whistle! There was no repeat of CAR's heroics in Lagos today as Nigeria carved out a comfortable 2-0 win to get their qualification campaign back on track. That's three wins from four now for Gernot Rohr's Super Eagles and they now have a five-point cushion in Group C with Cape Verde and Liberia playing later today.

Another glorious run from Ejuke as he wriggles through several challenges but his eventual shot is blocked.

Three minutes added.

A chance now for CAR as Awaziem concedes a free kick. Okoye hasn't much to do in the Nigeria goal this afternoon but comes to claim the delivery.

Another jinking run from Ejuke tees up Osimhen for a chance but his effort flies over the bar. The CSKA midfielder has been electric since his introduction.

Osimhen is back on and given a ball to chase by Moses but it's too long for the Napoli striker

Concern for Nigeria and Napoli as Osimhen goes down after what looked like a set of studs down the back of his calf.

Ejuke! Cracking run from the CSKA man and he gets a decent shot away, forcing a diving save from Prince.

Bonke Innocent is on for his second Nigeria cap, Iheanacho heads off.

That's the end of Balogun's afternoon as he heads off after that clash. Kenneth Omeruo on to replace the Rangers defender.

NIgeria clear with little fuss though but CAR come forward again and win a throw out on the far side.

Chance for CAR from a free kick now as Toropité is tripped by Collins.

Nice work from Simon to nick the ball and drive into the CAR half but his pass for Iheanacho is a little too strong and the Leicester man, who has become somewhat isolated up top, can't get to that.

Balogun is down and not happy after a challenge with Namnganda and the Rangers man is off for some magic sponge treatment.

Change for NIgeria as 100-cap Musa heads off with CSKA Moscow midfielder Chidera Ejuke coming on.

Another free kick for Nigeria as Niamathé takes down Musa. It's wasted again though and sent out for a goal kick. The Super Eagles have been very poor from set-pieces today.

Namnganda! The hero of Lagos has hardly had a touch this afternoon but bursts through on the far side and flashes a shot across the face of goal. That's the first decent opening CAR have had so far.

Saint-Cyr! What a stop! The defender is racing back to cover as Osimhen rounds the keeper and shoots at an open goal, sticking out a boot and making a wonderful goal line clearance. Excellent defending from the DFC8 man.

Frank Onyeka goes into the book for a foul on Ngoma.

A contrast to highlight the differences in resources between the two sides today. Osimhen, the Napoli striker, joined the Italian side in a €70m deal. His marker, Peter Guinari, plays for Pipinsried in the German semi-amateur fourth-tier Regionalliga. 

We're back underway! CAR with a hill to climb in the second half.

Nigeria are back out on the pitch and CAR belatedly join them with the second half about to get underway.

The CAR bench is furious about something and giving the ref a right royal dressing down as the teams head into the tunnel.

And that's the half! Nigeria in the driving seat with goals from Osimhen and Balogun.

Ngoma goes into the book for a wild challenge on Aribo.

CAR break and stage a rare foray into the Nigeria box but the eventual shot is blocked and the blue shirts flood back to assume their defensive stance again.

It's a decent delivery and Awaziem gets his head to it but can't guide his effort on target.

Moses Simon is carved down by Tresór Toropité on the far side and Nigeria have another set-piece opportunity.

A forced change for the home side as M'Vondo trudges off with what looks like a muscle issue to be replaced by Isaac Ngoma.

That's the Rangers defender's first goal for his country.

It's so far, so good for CAR with Prince yet to be called into serious action between the home sticks.

Jospin Gaopandia joins Niamathé in the book for a clumsy challenge in midfield and CAR will need to be careful with two of their midfielders on a cuation now.

Freeman Niamathé finds his way into the book for a foul on Musa but Nigeria waste the set piece with a poor ball into the area that Prince gathers.

Too long in fact and it's out on the far side from a glanced CAR header. Iheanacho buys a yard in the area but is pulled up for a foul.

Nigeria win a corner off Ban and will go long this time.

Nigeria are certainly enjoying plenty of the ball early on but CAR look extremely comfortable in defence and have yet to be genuinely troubled.

A lovely run from Thibault Ban is halted with a foul and CAR have a free kick. Good footwork from the Anges de Fatima defender, who has a few tricks in his boots.

Musa spies the run of Moses Simon on the right but overcooks his pass and CAR have a breather as Prince hoists the ball upfield.

Another sniff for the Napoli man but the massed blue shirts of CAR block his path.

A first link-up between Osimhen and Iheanacho but the former's touch deserts him as he gets face-on to goal and the ball trundles out.

Corner for Nigeria, taken short and Yangao wins a throw for the home side.

Ahmed Musa is earning his 100th cap for NIgeria today.

Iheanacho takes but he can't get the ball down after clearing the wall and it flies over Prince Samolah's bar.

Useful looking free kick for Nigeria as Guinari clips the heels of Osimhen.

It's an intersting kick-off as the home side thump the ball straight out for a goal kick. Not quite sure what the idea was there but it certainly wasn't a shot.

Here we go! CAR get us underway as they seek another historic result against the mighty Super Eagles!

And now the home side, who are of course not exactly at home, but playing in neighbouring Cameroon as FIFA didn't like the look of the pitch at the Stade Barthélémy Boganda in Bangui.

And now the anthems, Nigeria first up...

Here come the flag bearers onto the pitch now and the teams follow them on to the turf at the Japoma Stadium.

We're just 10 minutes from kick-off now and the handful of fans allowed in the stadium today are in colourful mood with plenty of flags flying.

CAR starting line-up confirmed

Samola; Yangao, Guinari, Ndobe, Niamathe, Ngam-Ngam; Namnganda, Ban, Toropite, Ndokomandji; M’Vondo

Super Eagles starting XI confirmed

Iheanacho has been passed fit and will start up top alongside Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

Savoy on Nigeria

“The Super Eagles are lucky that this match will be played in Cameroon and not Bangui. It would have been tough for them,” the CAR boss told Goal Nigeria ahead of the game.

“Nobody comes there to defeat us. The likes of Morocco, Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire have played in Bangui and didn't win.

“We are playing in Douala that has a very good pitch, so it will be easier for Nigeria to play us than in Bangui.

“For us, the change of venue will not be a problem for us because long before the stadium issue, we are used to playing away from home.

The Super Eagles boss has faced plenty of criticism in the wake of the CAR defeat and admitted there is no other option today but victory. Calls for the German tactician to be replaced have been increasing in volume and the former Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso manager knows his job is on the line if Nigeria fail to reach the next round of CAF qualifying.

Rohr has some notable absentees today in the form of Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, who both missed the 1-0 CAR defeat. The Super Eagles boss is also unsure if Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho will be fit for today's game.

Here's a full list of the fourth round of CAF qualifiers, with the other two sides in Group C, Liberia and Cape Verde, playing later on Sunday. 

Gernot Rohr's side will be looking to put that defeat behind them as they seek qualification for their seventh World Cup finals. As it stands, Nigeria are top of Group C on six points with three rounds of fixtures left, with Cape Verde and CAR tied on four points and Liberia on three. Only the group winners go through to the final round of CAF qualifying.

QATAR 2022

Central African Republic vs Nigeria: how and where to watch - times, TV, online

CAR vs Nigeria preview and how to watch

As ever, we've put together a brief overview of today's game and some information as to how you can follow the action.

Raoul Savoy's side, who are currently outside the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings but peaked at 52 back in 2012, scored a surprise victory over the Super Eagles a few days ago in the reverse fixture in Lagos courtesy of a stoppage time Karl Namnganda strike.

That result gives CAR a 100% record against Nigeria - it was the first time in history the sides had met in a competitive fixture.

CAR vs Nigeria live: welcome

Hello and welcome to AS English's live coverage of the 2022 World Cup qualifier between the Central African Republic and Nigeria from the Japoma Stadium in Cameroon. Kick-off is at 15:00 CEST.