CHAN: Eagles Advance To Q/Finals

Nigeria’s Super Eagles  again proved to be the jinx team for South Africa as they beat Bafana 3-1 to eliminate the CHAN hosts from the competition.
The Eagles finished second in Group A with six points from three matches, behind winners Mali, who recorded seven points.
Ejike Uzoenyi opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 22nd minute, when he connected Ifeanyi Ede’s well laid pass from the left.
Ede made it 2-0 for Nigeria with a 32nd minute penalty after Gbolahan Salami was brought down by South Africa goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs.
Nigeria goalkeeper Agbim denied South Africa a goal in the 61st minute, before Ejike Uzoenyi completed his brace in the 64th minute to give Nigeria 3-0 lead.
The Nigerians were at the edge of the precipice staring elimination in the face after losing one and winning one of their first two matches.
In contrast, the South Africans had four points from a win and a draw from their opening matches and needed at least a draw to progress.
With the Eagles wobbling in the championship with below par performance prior to the decisive game, there were palpable fears that the team would come unstruck against the hosts.
But in the true Nigeria Eagle’s spirit, the coach Stephen Kashi led side raised their game to echipse the hopes of the hosts.
Even the much maligned skipper and keeper of the team, Chigozie Agbim pulled off several impressive saves to ensure that Nigeria protected their lead till the final whistle.
The victory march began in the 21st minute when impressive Ejike Uzoenyi blasted the ball to the roof of the net for Nigeria’s first goal.
It was soon 2-0 when Ifenayi Ede squeezed home from the penalty spot after South African Keeper, Josephs brought Gbolahan Salami down in the box.
In the second half, the host, being spurred on by the vociferous home crowed tried to find a way back into the game, but the Eagles held firm.
When it looked as the South African were getting a foothold in the game, Nigeria got a third goal with Uzoenyi again making a sublime finish off a one-touch pass.
Bernard Parker scored South Africa’s consolation goal from the penalty spot in the 81st minutes after Ugonna Uzochukwu was adjudged to have brought down Matshego inside the 18-yard box.
Both sides finished the game with 10 men a-piece following the expulsion of the right fullbacks.
With Nigeria’s victory and Mali’s come from behind win over Mozambique, the Super Eagles finished as runners up behind Mali and South Africa crashed out.

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