their hopes of qualifying for next year's Africa Cup of Nations with a
2-0 win over the Red Devils of Congo in Point Noire, Congo.
The two goals were scored by Villareal striker, Ikechukwu Uche and
China-based Aaron Samuel. The decisive victory was sufficient for the
Super Eagles to avenge a 3-2 defeat they suffered at the hands of the
Congolese national team in Calabar back in September 2014.
The Congolese team looked fit and ready to crush the Eagles during the
first half, but they crumbled in the second with Nigeria playing more
aggressively to take over the game.
The Nigerian side was awarded a penalty from Emmanuel Emenike's
surging run (fouled by the goalkeeper) and Samuel's sweet curling goal
for Nigeria's was the second of the game
Before the match, Congo were second in the Group A standings on seven
points from four matches, three points ahead of third-placed Nigeria
(only the top two teams guaranteed automatic passage to the tournament
proper).
The Red Devils also held the advantage of having beaten the Super
Eagles at home 3-2 in the first encounter in September and so the
favourable result today means that the Eagles have leapfrogged above
the Red Devils into the second place.
Nigeria is billed to play against South Africa for the final
qualification match on Wednesday at the newly built Akwa Ibom
international stadium with strong hopes of making it to Equatorial
Guinea next year.
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