Kickoff (Cape Town)
11 October 2008
Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu made some major changes to his starting line-up and was rewarded with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Sierra Leone in a 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday in Abuja.
In truth, the scoreline could have been more embarrassing for the Leone Stars, with Ike Uche having two goals cleared off the goalline and the Nigerians missing a host of other scoring opportunities.
Christian Obodo, returning to the squad for the only the second time since his injury in early 2007, was handed a start alongside Olympic Games silver medallists Osaze Odewmingie, Obinna Nsofor and Sani Kaita and it wasn't long before Amodu saw his faith rewarded.
The Sierra Leone defence found themselves scampering blindly around in their area and the ball fell to Obodo, who stabbed it home from close range.
But then came the blot on the Eagles copy book. A long floated ball looked to pose little danger with both Nigeria centre backs up against one flailing striker, but indecision between them ended up with both going for the ball, and Yobo lobbing it over and beyond a bemused Dele Aiyenugba and into the goal.
Parity lasted only three minutes.
Kalu Uche created space for himself by twisting past one defender and unleashing a shot packed with ferocity. It came off the left upright, and Nsofor was on hand to rip it into the roof of the net with some zip.
With their confidence punctured, the Leone Stars were being taken apart by some of the slickest passing moves the Super Eagles have put together in recent years and it was only a matter of time before another goal came.
In actual fact, it was just on the stroke of halftime. The impressive Nsofor threaded a pass into the path of Odemwingie, who took one touch before rifling past the long suffering Christian Caulker.
Damage limitation looked to be the final resort of the Sierra Leoneans as the Eagles continued to play some irresistible football, and when Chidi Odiah mesmerised his way to a fourth, it was clear that the romance was back between Eagles and fans.
Nigeria could afford to overlook it when Zambian referee Wellington Kaoma disallowed two goals scored by Ike Uche. The first was the correct decision, the second should have stood.
By the time Yakubu Aiyegbeni came on to replace a tiring Uche for a six-minute cameo, Nigeria were on cruise control and he really needn't have bothered.
Nigeria thus finish with 18 points, the only team in Africa with a one hundred percent record in this stage of qualifying.
More important than the result though, was the display. It was confident, it was full of pace and trickery and it was pleasing to the eye.
Amodu will be happy to have seen the fans respond with cheers for his team.
When was the last time the Super Eagles shared such a bond with their fans?
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