Eguavoen Promises To End Tanzania’s Giant-Killing Run

Tanzania continued their giant-killing run in the 2012 London Olympic Games football qualifiers with a 1-0 win over Nigeria at the weekend.

Thomas Ulimwengu nodded a quick throw-in past goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye eight minutes from full time at Uhuru Stadium to give the home team a fortunate third-round, first-leg victory.

Nigeria, among the most impressive national U-23 teams in Africa after scoring 16 goals in their last four competitive matches, had much more of the ball only to squander several good scoring chances.

But coach Austin Eguavoen remains confident of progress, promising to beat the team that stunned Cameroon in the previous round when they meet again this month in Abuja.

“We lost despite being the better team and it will be a different story when we host the return match – I promise Nigerians that my boys will score five goals,” said the former national team star.

Tanzania coach Jamhuri Kihwelu remains hopeful of claiming another high-profile victim in a competition restricted to U-23 footballers until the finals, when three over-age ‘wild cards’ can be fielded.