Nigeria/Algeria: Super Eagles Console Themselves With Bronze

Sydney Mahlangu/Backpagepix
Obinna Nsofor of Nigeria, somersaults to celebrate a goal against Algeria with teammates Chinedu Obasi, 7, and Taye Taiwo, 3.
30 January 2010
allAfrica.com
By Mark Gleeson

Benguela — Nigeria regained their acquaintance with bronze at the Africa Nations Cup finals on Saturday as striker Obinna Nsofor's second-half goal ensured third place in Angola.

The 1-0 win over Algeria in Benguela's Ombaka Stadium came courtesy of Nigeria's first goal in their last three matches at the tournament, where despite their reaching the semifinal they were far from convincing.

The consolation victory over the north Africans, who are also headed to the World Cup finals in South Africa later this year, means that the Super Eagles have finished bronze medalists at four of the last five Nations Cup tournaments.

Nsofor barged through the Algerian defence after a botched clearance from Slimane Raho in the 55th minute to tuck away the goal with a deft left-foot finish. A shot from Nwankwo Kanu had been blocked by Raho but bounced back into the path of the speedy forward, who then took on three defenders in a rare sign of confidence for a Nigerian striker over the last three weeks in Angola.

Nsofor had missed a good opportunity just six minutes earlier when Algeria's goalkeeper Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche failed to handle a free kick from Taye Taiwo and the ball bounced up for Nsofor to finish, but he managed to hit it into the ground and up against the crossbar.

He was unmarked and should have made much better use, and still had another effort scuffed as Zemmamouche scrambled to get his hands of the ball.

Another Taiwo free kick earlier had set up a chance for fellow defender Chidi Odiah but he hit his effort over the crossbar.

Algeria's best chance fell just before half-time to Mourad Meghni, with a dipping shot that just crept over the Nigerian goal.

But Algeria infrequently attacked and were regularly caught offsides.

Both sides made several changes after their semifinal defeats on Thursday. Algeria were missing three players through suspension, while Nigeria gave a rare start to ageing striker Kanu, who managed the best shot of the first half with a left-footed effort in the 32nd minute.

Algeria started the tournament with a horror defeat by Malawi but recovered to post an unexpected 3-2 win over the heavily-fancied Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals last weekend. They reached the semifinals for the first time since 1990.

Both tonight's contestants are headed to the World Cup in South Africa later this year but Nigeria's coach Shaibu Amodu is under threat of dismissal after a groundswell of opinion against him back in a dejected Nigeria.

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