Eagles survive Kenyan scare
In what looked they were primed by the humiliating reception they reportedly received from the Nigerian football administrators, the Harambee Stars of Kenya caused an upset by holding African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, to a one all draw in Calabar today.
Nigerians were even lucky to have gotten that scoreline as it took a 93rd minute strike by former AC Milan winger, Nnamdi Oduamadi, for the Eagles to cancel out a first half goal by Kenya’s winger, Nyambura.
Nigeria started the match on an attacking note, with the triumvirate of Obafemi Martins, Brown Aide Ideye and Victor Moses pulling all strings, but the Victor Vanyama-led defenceline of Kenya rose to the occasion, ferrying off the rampaging Nigerian attackers, and relying on counter-attacks.
The Kenyan game plan was clear from beginning: defend and make use of opportunities and it worked out for them, as Nyambura curled in a beautiful freekick from 25 yards that Vincent Enyeama had no answer for.
The Super Eagles continued to look for opportunities to break the duck but the Kenyans were superbly stoic. The Stars’ keeper was warned at first, and yellow-carded on second offence, as he tried to employ delay tactics.
Just as the match was nearing its tail-end, 3 minutes into the 5 minutes extra time of second half, Oduamadi curled in the goal that saves Nigeria’s face.
With this result, Nigeria have 5 points, still topping the group. Both sides clash again in Nairobi for the return leg.
Time for Kenyans to have some laugh on twitter…