Leadership (Abuja)
Salifu Usman
22 June 2008
The Super Eagles of Nigeria yesterday at the Abuja National Stadium made it through to the next round of the 2010 joint World/Nations Cup qualifier with a 2-0 defeat over Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea.
The highly fancied Nigerian side went into the encounter a clear favourite as against the low rated Equatorial Guinea, but unable to pull the string throughout the first 45 minutes into the cracker. However, the few minutes of the added time saw Yakubu Aiyegbeni slotted in Osaze odewingie's cross from the right wing to give Nigeria a lead before the end of the first half. Gatele striker, Ike Uche made it two for Nigeria with seven minutes left to end of the match.
Super Eagles, on the road to the 2010 World/Nations Cup in South Africa and Angola respectively, has kept their campaign on a 100 per cent record with four victories out of four matches played so far. Nigeria is comfortably toping group 4 of the joint qualifier with 12 points. Their two remaining matches against South Africa and Sierra Leone respectively in September will be a mere formality after the other group match between South Africa and Sierra Leone yesterday ended goalless.
Sierra Leone is second in the group with four points ahead of South Africa who has the same four points on head-to-head rule, while Equatorial Guinea is last with three points from four matches.
Super Eagles return-right-back, Chidi Odia was voted most valuable player of the encounter which saw former Super Eagles captain, Austin Ja-jay Okocha, physical presence added to the spectators' cheer of his former team-mates to victory.
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