Nigeria 1-1 Cape Verde summary: score, goals, highlights, 2022 World Cup qualifying
Nigeria 1-1 Cape Verde: as it happened
Our coverage of Nigeria vs Cape Verde ends here. The Super Eagles advance to the 2022 World Cup playoffs. Thanks for joining and see you soon!
Nigeria get the job done
Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr has been criticised for the way his side have been playing. Nigeria played well in the first half against Cape Verde but failed to make the most of their chances. In the second half, they huffed and puffed. Rohr has a lot of work to do now ahead of the playoffs next March if he wants to take the Eagles to the World Cup in Qatar.
Osimhen reaches double figures
The Napoli striker, still just 22, moved into double figures for Nigeria today with his first half strike.
19 caps, 10 goals, 5 assists.
Group C final standings
Nigeria win Group C by two points. Cape Verde finish second on 11 points, followed by Liberia in third and the Central African Republic last.
The draw was enough for the Super Eagles. They had plenty of chances in the first half to extend their lead but Cape Verde, to their credit, stayed in the game right until the very end.
It wasn't to be for Cape Verde, who finish second in Group C. Nigeria can now look forward to joining nine other teams in the playoffs next March for a place at Qatar 2022.
Nigeria are one step closer to the World Cup!
FT: Nigeria 1-1 Cape Verde!
Nigeria are through to the playoffs!
Cape Verde cross it into the box! Nigeria clear!
Collins clears it long. Iheanacho takes the ball into the corner.
Cape Verde launch it forward. Nigeria clear and get another free-kick. They're just two minutes away from the playoffs.
There will be three added minutes!
Collins is fouled. That will suit Nigeria.
Onuachu finds himself offside as the ball is played over the top.
Nigeria change:
OFF Osimhen
ON Onuachu
Cape Verde are pushing for the winning goal that they need. Nigeria are defending for their lives now. It's set piece after set piece for Cape Verde. Vagner takes another corner. Ndidi gets it away once again.
Ndidi saves Nigeria for now!
Vagner curls the free-kick into the box. Six Cape Verde players are in the box. Semedo shoots into the crowd of Nigerian players and it hits Ndidi.
Balogun picks up a yellow for his late tackle.
Cape Verde win a free-kick deep into the Nigerian half. This could be their moment.
Vozinha runs off his line to catch the free. 1-1
Fortes fouls Osimhen. It's a free-kick to Nigeria.
Iheanacho's header is blocked and Nigeria have another corner. The Leicester man sends his cross too deep and it goes out for a goal kick. Cape Verde need a goal!
Osimhen crosses into the box but Lopes clears for Cape Verde.
Nigeria 1-1 Cape Verde
Nigeria fans in the stadium are starting to get a little nervous.
It's a smashing delivery by Vagner. Stopira can't keep his header down.
Cape Verde have another corner!
A draw will be enough for the Super Eagles.
Remember: Cape Verde need the three points here. It's still 1-1 and the away side are starting to get into this a little bit more.
Nigeria change:
OFF Aribo
ON Onyeka
Nigeria change:
OFF Ighalo
ON Iheanacho
Vagner takes the corner for Cape Verde. It's a great cross but Collins clears for the Super Eagles.
Cape Verde make an attacking change:
OFF Paulino
ON Vagner
Balogun blocks Semedo's ambitious shot from outside the box. Cape Verde will be in this one until the very end it seems.
Cape Verde are unbeaten away from home in the World Cup qualifying matches.
Osimhen and Ighalo have seen less of the ball in the second half. It's been a cagier affair this half. Nigeria have been criticised for their play recently and those critics will be out again.
With just over 20 minutes to go, Nigeria will advance to the 2022 World Cup playoffs, as things stand. They are top of the group. Cape Verde don't look like conjuring up much.
Nigeria substitution
OFF Simon
ON Shehu
This time Moses Simon is down. The stretcher is out for the Nantes man.
Another double change for Cape Verde
OFF Andrade & Rocha
ON Tavares & Lima
Cape Verde need to win this one but have really struggled to penetrate. Nigeria have had the better of the chances so far but have also been more sluggish in the second half. A draw suits them.
Stopira is down for Cape Verde. It looks like a painful one.
Nigeria still have the option of introducing Iheanacho.
Cape Verde make a double change:
OFF Fortes & Monteiro
ON Semedo & Borges
Okoye flies off his line to snatch the loose ball as Cape Verde end up in the home team's box. They haven't had many chances today. Nigeria have had the upper hand. 1-1
Nigeria have played in six of the last seven World Cups. The last time they missed out was in 2006.
Roberto Lopes pulls Victor Osimhen down on the touchline. The Napoli man is looking for a free but the referee waves play on.
Collins fouls Fortes and Cape Verde have a free. It's been a slow start to the second half.
Stopira stops Osimhen from grabbing his and Nigeria's second. It's a super cross to the back post by Collins and the Cape Verde goalscorer clears the danger.
Nigeria currently lead the group by two points. Cape Verde need to win to claim a place in the playoffs.
Group C as things stand
If you're just coming in from work and want to know what is going on, Nigeria and Cape Verde are currently drawing 1-1 in Lagos.
Cape Verde get us underway in the second half!
The teams are back out on the pitch!
Qatar 2022: Which national teams have qualified for the World Cup?
Some half-time reading for you!
A point will be enough for the Super Eagles today. Six teams are already through to the playoffs in March 2022, with nine teams still in contention for four places.
As things stand, Nigeria will top Group C and head for the playoffs next March. Victor Osimhen gave them an early lead, before Cape Verde equalised through Stopira. The Super Eagles could be ahead but have failed to make the most of their first half chances.
HT: Nigeria 1-1 Cape Verde
Cape Verde are on the counter and the Algerian referee blows his whistle for half-time. The Cape Verde players are furious with that decision.
The fourth official puts his board up. There will be two additional minutes.
Ighalo finds space down the left, lifts his head to pick out Osimhen, but his cross is cleared.
It's still 1-1 as we approach the break. Cape Verde have their keeper to thank so far.
Simon whips it in from the right and it almost goes in under the bar! Vozinha is on his toes and tips it over. He's been outstanding so far. Nigeria could be three or four goals to the good.
Nigeria win a free-kick in their own half. Simon goes down the right and earns another free. Nigeria have a chance to go ahead.
The Super Eagles have created the better chances so far but it remains 1-1.
Another chance for Nigeria!
Ighalo smashes his header over the bar after a right wing cross by Osimhen.
Vozinha saves excellently!
Aribo strikes it really well but the keeper palms it out for a corner. Osimhen gets up to head the resulting corner but can't add to his opening goal.
Nigeria won their previous game against Cape Verde. Today is only the second time the sides have met competitively.
Whoever tops Group C today will be one of 10 group winners to go through to the playoffs. Each group winner will then play home and away against another group winner for a place in next year's World Cup.
IGHALO!
He totally scuffs his shot after some great play by Iwobi. It's a super chance for the experienced striker in the box but he fails to connect clearly.
Lopes miscues another header. Nigeria have a corner on the right. Simon sends it to the back post for Balogun, but his header flies wide.
Alex Iwobi is fouled by Andrade. Nigeria free-kick.
Simon is down for Nigeria.
Osimhen put the home side ahead in the opening minute and just five minutes later, Cape Verde equalised. It's currently 1-1 in Lagos and as things stand, Nigeria will finish Group C winners and head into the playoffs.
Collins takes the free-kick but it evades everyone and goes out for a throw-in on the far side. 1-1
Cape Verde yet again give away a needless free-kick.
Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi picks up a yellow card for an elbow.
It's beautifully floated cross to Osimhen at the back post but his header goes across goal.
Stopira fouls Osimhen. Nigeria win another free-kick and they have another opportunity to take the lead once again. It's about 35 yards from goal, probably too far for a shot but definitely in a good area for a cross.
Ighalo is fouled by Fortes and Nigeria have a free-kick.
Iwobi strikes!
He hits the target but it's not his finest strike ever. Well, it's been an excellent opening 10 minutes in Lagos. We've already had two goals.
Tavares heads over for Cape Verde. It's another set-piece, this time from the left but he fails to keep his header down.
Stopira does really well to get in front of his marker and keep his shot down. It's a really well-taken finish.
STOPIRA scores from close range from the corner out on the right. Cape Verde have gotten right back into this.
Good pressure from Tavares wins Cape Verde a corner.
Roberto Lopes miscued his header in the box, before it fell to the Napoli striker and he makes no mistake from close range.
That's Osimhen's fourth goal of the qualifying round. He's on fire at club level too and at 22 will only get better.
Nigeria get a corner after just 20 seconds.
Nigeria get us underway in Lagos!
It's time for the national anthems.
The teams have made their way onto the pitch!
Cape Verde must win today if they are to finish top of Group C.
A point will be enough for the Super Eagles today. The play-offs are in late March. Six teams are through to the playoffs already, with nine teams in contention today for four places.
Kick-off in Lagos is just 10 minutes away!
Nigeria have played in six of the last seven World Cups.
The last time they missed out was in 2006.
Iheanacho starts on the bench
If you're just joining us, Kelechi Iheanacho starts on the bench for the Super Eagles. Former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo starts in his place.
Irish club Shamrock Rovers wish their player Roberto Lopes luck ahead of the World Cup qualifying match.
Kick-off in Lagos is just over 20 minutes away!
Cape Verde starting XI
Gernot Rohr: "It's good to play with pressure"
Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr spoke ahead of his side's crunch clash with Cape Verde on Tuesday.
"It's good to have pressure for my players."
Cape Verde unbeaten away from home
Cape Verde are unbeaten away from home in qualifying, but Nigeria are the stronger of the two sides and many expect them to earn all three points today.
Third meeting between the sides
A win for either side today would see them advance to the Third Round. A draw would be enough for Nigeria but not for Cape Verde so there will be a lot at stake in Lagos in what promises to be a tense match.
It will also be a significant milestone for Gernot Rohr who will oversee his 54th match in charge of the Super Eagles, surpassing the record which he shares with former Nigeria coach, Shaibu Amodu.
Apart from the September meeting in Mindelo, Nigeria and Cape Verde have crossed paths just once before - in a friendly in January 2013 which failed to produce goals.
Nigeria vs Cape Verde: how and where to watch - times, TV, online
The CAF 2022 World Cup qualifiers continue on Tuesday with Nigeria's meeting with Cape Verde as the top billing.
Nigeria go into the game sitting proudly top of Group C on 12 points and having dropped points just once - the Super Eagles suffered a shock 0-1 defeat to Central African Republic in the first official encounter between the two nations last month.
Cape Verde are unbeaten away from home in qualifying and have 10 points from their five group games so far.
Nigeria top of Group C
Today's game is a pretty big in in CAF qualifying for the World Cup. Nigeria need only to avoid defeat to book their third round spot as they sit two points clear of Cape Verde at the top of Group C.
Nigeria vs Cape Verde live: welcome
Hello and welcome to AS English's live coverage as Nigeria host Cape Verde in this World Cup qualifying match. Kick-off is at 11:00 ET / 17:00 CET.