Nigeria’s Super Eagles will have to play the match of their lives on Tuesday when they confront battered Ethiopia in their last Group C game and would need to win convincingly while praying that Zambia does not beat the Stallions of Burkina Faso. With the Super Eagles standing on the second position behind Group leader, Burkina Faso on two points from two draws, as against Burkinabes four points, the Nigerian side would need to give its very best to make the difference with a win to finish with five points. Burkina Faso’s 10 men surged to the top of Africa Cup of Nations’ Group C, with an emphatic 4–0 victory over Ethiopia.
The Stallions took the lead in the first half when striker, Alain Traore, gathered a clever ball over the top and blasted into the top corner. Traore doubled their lead on the 74th minute, driving home at the near post, before Djakaridja Kone made it three. Playmaker, Jonathan Pitroipa, sealed the rout, after goalkeeper, Abdoulaye Soulama had earlier been dismissed. Earlier in the first game of the day, Nigeria was again pegged back by the defending African Cup of Nations champion, Zambia in a 1–1 draw yesterday in a Group C match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelpruit.
It was a classic game of two halves, Zambia dominated the first period, but Nigeria stepped up after the interval. Emmanuel Emenike gave Nigeria the lead in the 57th minute, when he was set up by Mikel Obi after he stole the ball from Chisamba Lungu. Kennedy Mweene drew Zambia level in the 85th minute when he slotted past Enyeama after Ogenyi Onazi was adjudged to have brought down Emmanuel Mayuka. Zambia was the livelier of the two teams in a goalless first half and created the better chances.
The Zambians enjoyed more of the possession with Southampton striker, Emmanuel Mayuka’s header missing the target very early on, before Kalaba fired at the Eagles’ goal on the 16th minute off a Chisamba Lungu cross. Six minutes later, playmaker, Kalaba’s shot-cum-cross was clutched by Nigerian goalkeeper, Enyeama. Nigeria elected to play the long ball, thereby cutting off Zambia’s midfield to get quicker to goal. Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi, failed to score from the penalty spot in the 26th minute after David Nkausu brought down Ahmed Musa inside the box.
Obi’s effort beat a diving Kennedy Mweene, but came off the foot of the post. On the 29th minute, skipper Enyeama was again called to duty when he had to dive full stretch to hold firmly to a Chisamba’s free-kick from outside the box. In the 36th minute, big defender, Stopilla Sunzu’s header off another free kick, screamed across the Eagles’ goal, before Chris Katongo scoffed his shot at goal no thanks to the sandy Mbombela Stadium pitch. Enyeama, again, came up big in the first half stoppage time when he went down to deal superbly with a dangerous-looking Chisamba’s effort from the right flank.
Nigeria got off to a flying start immediately after the break, as Emenike troubled the Zambian defence severally and it was not long before he would score his second goal of the tournament. Emenike gave Nigeria the lead in the 57th minute, when he was set up by Mikel Obi after he stole the ball from Chisamba Lungu. On the 72nd minute, Enyeama saved off the feet of the exciting Kalaba as the Chipolopolo poured forward in search of an equalising goal. Kalaba, again, set up substitute Collins Mbesuma on 81st minute right inside the box, but the big striker’s shot was too weak to trouble Enyeama.
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