Post-Algeria: WCQ Records and Milestones......

Here are some milestones to watch as the World Cup Qualifiers proceed for Nigeria. Here we go:

Gernot Rohr is yet to give a debut to a player in his first three games and remains second among Nigerian coaches not providing a debut to a player in the first three games. Bora Milutinovic did not provide a debut to player in seven matches.

Kelechi Iheanacho's streak of four consecutive goals in as many games was stopped when he failed to score against Algeria. Thus, he stays (along with six others) behind the record of goals in five consecutive games currently held by both Emmanuel Emenike and Yakubu Mambo.

Nigeria's five consecutive wins is second only to six consecutive wins set under Shuaibu Amodu in 2008. The five consecutive wins is tied with five also achieved under Shuaibu Amodu in 2001.

Ahmed Musa's assist in the Algeria game gave him two assists in World Cup qualifying play tied with four other players since 1994. The four are Mikel Obi, John Utaka, Osaze Odemwingie, and Brown Ideye. The record is held by Obinna Nsofor with four.

Elderson Echiejile barely escaped a yellow card against Algeria with a first half foul that led to a talk with match official Gassama. However, Echiejile has three yellow cards in World Cup qualifiers since 1994 tied with Efe Ambrose and behind Taribo West (4) and Augustine Eguavoen (5).

Mikel Obi has now appeared in 16 World Cup qualifiers for Nigeria. That is tied with Finidi George since 1994. Mikel is still behind eight players with Vincent Enyeama well ahead of everyone with 28 World Cup qualifiers. If Mikel plays one more World Cup qualifier he will tie Osaze Odemwingie at 17. Others ahead of Mikel are Aiyegbeni, Garba Lawal, Seyi Olofinjana, all at 18. Okocha is at 20, Yobo at 22 and Kanu Nwankwo at 23.

Victor Moses' two goals against Algeria gives him a total of four World Cup qualifying goals that ties Okocha. However, he is still behind Nwankwo Kanu, Ikechukwu Uche, and Obinna Nsofor all at 5 goals. Aiyegbeni and Amokachi have 6 goals each, Rashidi Yekini has 7, and Obafemi Martins leads with 9 since 1994.  Moses' two goals in a single game is tied with eight others for the most in a World Cup qualifier since 1994. Martins has scored a brace four times in World Cup qualifying games for a Nigerian record ahead of Amokachi and Yekini who both scored a brace in two games since 1994.


NOTES
Only three players have played 180 minutes in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers for Nigeria. They are William Ekong, Elderson Echiejile, and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Victor Moses has two goals to lead everyone in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Assists have so far come from three players: Ahmed Musa, Etebo Oghenekaro, and Brown Ideye.

Two players have been cautioned: Mikel Obi and Victor Moses.

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