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By Rainos Mukanya

The super eagles of Nigeria enhanced their chances of qualifying for the knock out stage of the Chan following their 4-2 victory over the Mambas of Mozambique in a pulsating match played at the Cape Town stadium on Wednesday. In a must win match for Stephen Keshi’s men, a brace from Rabiu Ali and a goal apiece from Ifeanyi Ede and substitute Barnabas Imenger were enough to send the mambas crashing out of the tournament despite scoring two goals through Dario Khan and Diogo.

After the opening five minutes that were cagey even by Chan standards so far, the game came life in the 7th minute through a surging run into the mambas by Christantus Ejike only for him to end on the floor in a vain attempt to win a penalty. He was duly cautioned for simulation. Then the game turned on its head between the 10th and the 20th minutes.

First, like they did against Bafana Bafana, the Mambas opened the scoring through a stunning free kick from Dario Khan from just outside the box in the 10th, then the super eagles hit back immediately when Ede volleyed home a flicked throw in the 11th minute. Two minutes later the super eagles surged ahead through Rabiu Ali’s cracking shot from the edge of the box following a defensive error. The mambas could have hit back in the 15th minute had Maninho’s shot from a through pass not been scrambled for a corner by the Nigerian keeper.

The equaliser came in the 20th minute when Maninho threaded a pass through a cluster of Nigerian defenders to Diogo who who tapped in from close range. The mambas were on top from then on forcing two corners in the last five minutes of the half.

Diogo began the second half with a forceful run into the Nigerian area, but his shot was deflected for a corner. Perhaps the turning point of the match came in the 52nd minute when Nigeria were awarded a penalty under controversial circumstances.

A shot from the edge of the box seemed to hit the knee of a defender, but the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Ali to score his second and Nigeria’s third. The goal seemed to take the fight out of the mambas who created very little after that. Nigeria then wrapped the match up in the 88th minute when Imenger crashed a shot beyond the Mambas keeper.

Bafana Bafana remain on top of Group A following their one all draw with Mali. Nigeria remain in third position.

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