Nigeria snagged the first points of Group B play with Algeria and Cameroon still to play. Iwobi struck first with a volley just past the half-hour mark for his first international goal on his seventh cap.
Iheanacho followed with Nigeria’s second just before the halftime break, an impressive solo goal as he rounded the keeper and kept his cool to score past three defenders guarding the goal line. The Manchester City youngster is on absolute fire for his country – the goal against Zambia is Iheanacho’s fourth in six caps for Nigeria, and he has scored in each of his last four caps.
Nigeria’s international squad is built of mostly European based players, including some from the Premier League, such as captain John Obi Mikel. Iheanacho played up front against Zambia alongside former West Brom striker Brown Ideye, who now plays for Olympiakos. Nigeria also started goalkeeper Carl Ikeme who starts for Championship club Wolverhampton.
Each at just 20 years old, Iwobi and Iheanacho have secured signifcant roles at Arsenal and Manchester City respectively this season. Iwobi has assisted a pair of goals for the Gunners this season in 291 Premier League minutes, and has created seven chances according to Squawka Statistics. Iheanacho, meanwhile, has scored two goals and assisted two others, including bagging the game-winner in the Manchester derby.
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