Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel starred as Nigeria moved into full control of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying group with a 3-1 home victory over Algeria in Uyo.<br /><br />Home team Nigeria had hope to extend their winning run under coach Gernot Rohr, who had won his first two games against Tanzania and Zambia.<br /><br />Algeria, on the other hand, needed a positive result after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Cameroon last month.<br /><br />Chelsea loanee Kenneth Omeruo was the man called upon to fix the problematic right back after he played in the heart of the defence in Ndola.<br /><br />As widely expected, Leon Balogun, Oghenekaro Etebo and Moses all made the starting eleven after injury kept them out last month&rsquo;s game against Zambia.<br /><br />Nigeria made four changes to the starting XI from last month&rsquo;s World Cup qualifier with Brown Ideye, Wilfred Ndidi and Moses Simon dumped to the bench.<br /><br />Major injury casualty was first-choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, whose place was taken by Chippa United of South Africa ace Daniel Akpeyi.<br /><br />Algeria had been hit by a spate of injuries with the Fennecs risking Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam, who had been nursing a groin injury.<br /><br />The arena was the superb edifice called the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.<br /><br />After a shaky start, the hosts&nbsp; gradually settled into their groove with the massive crowd cheering.<br /><br />Man-of-the-match Moses came close to netting the opening goal, but his final shot was off target after he dashed into the box seven minutes into the entertaining clash.<br /><br />The Algerians also pressed Nigeria from the front and got the three-time Nations Cup winners to commit some unnecessary mistakes.<br /><br />The game opened up and both sides were attacking each other at every opportunity.<br /><br />Former Heartland and Warri Wolves goalie Akpeyi came off his line to punch Yacine Brahimi&rsquo;s dangerous cross to safety.<br /><br />The first goal of the match soon arrived from the man causing all sorts problems down the flank in the 25th minute.<br /><br />Obi Mikel combined with Moses who dashed into the box to fire beyond the reach of the stranded goalkeeper M&rsquo;Bolhi.<br /><br />The goal gave Nigeria further impetus to attack and Moses ran down the flank to thread a cross to Kelechi Iheanacho who couldn&rsquo;t apply the simplest of touches to the ball. It was very close as the Algerian defence simply stood still.<br /><br />With nine minutes left in the first half, Algeria were almost on level terms.<br /><br />Riyad Mahrez delivered a tailor-made cross to Nabil Bentaleb, who turned past two defenders before shooting over the bar. That should have been the equaliser for Algeria.<br /><br />Another wave of attack by Mahrez saw the Leicester City man shoot for goal, but it was also off target to the relief of the home team.<br /><br />Nigeria had another reason to celebrate again and this time it was inspirational Mikel who was at the right place at the right time to fire a low shot to the back of the net.<br /><br />Mikel rolled the ball home after a moment of hesitation by the Algerians in the 42nd minute of play.<br /><br />The second half got underway with the Algerians pressing to reduce the deficit.<br /><br />Mahrez was the man taking the game to the Nigerian side.<br /><br />The winger ghosted past Elderson Echiejille before being stopped by the long legs of the reliable Balogun.<br /><br />Brahimi also peppered the Nigerian defence from the left side with his pace and trickery as Algeria pegged&nbsp; the Super Eagles in their own half.<br /><br />In the 67th minute, Algeria got a deserved goal through Bentaleb from about 25 metres. Goalkeeper Akpeyi was well beaten.<br /><br />The North Africans continued to be positive upfront and kept pushing for the leveler.<br /><br />Nine minutes from time Akpeyi tipped a dangerous free kick from Mahrez for a corner kick to the visitors.<br /><br />Nigeria extinguished Algeria&rsquo;s hope of at least picking a point in the first minute of injury time.<br /><br />Moses popped up at the near post to net the third goal for his country and a brace for himself.<br /><br />The other group game between Cameroon and Zambia ended 1-1 in Limbe.<br /><br /><b>Nigeria Starters</b>: Super Eagles Starters: Daniel Akpeyi, Kenneth Omeruo, Elderson Echiejille, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Ogenyi Onazi, Obi Mikel (c), Oghenekaro Etebo, Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho<br /><br /><b>Algeria Starters</b>: M&rsquo;Bolhi, Ziti, Ghoulam, Belkaroui, Mandi, Medjani (c), Taider, Bentaleb, Mahrez, Brahimi, Slimani<br /><br />Igho Kingsley