Nigeria's home-based Super Eagles survived a late scare to defeat MFM FC 3-2 in the final of the Super Six tournament on Sunday, at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
The home-based national team had raced to a three-goal lead, NPFL hotshot Anthony Okpotu helping himself to a brace, before MFM rallied back and netted two goals within a space of four minutes.
The five-goal thriller was a perfect climax to a tournament which was relatively devoid of goals, the fans not getting value for their tickets until the final match between the CHAN-bound Eagles and CAF Champions League campaigners MFM FC.
MFM FC started the brighter of the two sides, Stanley Okorom's speculative effort from distance easily saved by goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai. From then on, the Eagles were in cruise control, twice Rabiu Ali was denied by goalkeeper Ospino Egbe, including a point blank save.
Okpotu, earning his second start of the tournament, broke the deadlock in the 45th-minute, applying a smart chip over the onrushing Egbe. Ali and Peter Eneji were both denied by smart saves within three second-half minutes as the Eagles' continued to threaten.
The league runners-up's resistance was broken and Okpotu impressively netted his second goal of the day. Kingsley Eduwo, who later replaced Okpotu, marked his appearance with a goal within four minutes, a brilliant contribution by the Lobi Stars striking pair.
A tactical decision to substitute midfield orchestrator Ifeanyi Ifeanyi for the offensive minded Austin Oladapo coincided with the Eagles conceding two late goals. Jonathan Zikiye and Chuka Uwaga scored the MFM goals in the 86th and 90th minutes, ensuring a thrilling end to the one-week tournament.