By Rainos Mukanya
The Super Eagles of Nigeria claimed 3rd position at the Chan following a hard fought 1-0 win over 10 men Zimbabwe in a match played at the Cape Town stadium on Saturday.
An 86th minute header from Chinonso Obiozor was enough to break the hearts of the Zimbabwean supporters who had witnessed their team battling against mighty Nigeria for more than an hour with only ten men.
With both teams united in their quests to put the disappointment of missing out on the final behind them, it was the Nigerians who had the best of the early exchanges with Kwambe and Pyagbarra skying their efforts in the 4th and 6th minutes respectively.
The eleven players sent out by coach Steven Keshi featured neither Uzoenyi nor Rabiu Ali, the two players who had been instrumental in taking Nigeria to the semi-finals.>
With the Super Eagles on top, the Warriors had to rely on counter attacks which almost paid off in the 10th minute, but Simba Sithole’s effort was smothered by Agbim in goals for the Nigerians.
Then the turning point of the match came in the 17th minute. In an attempt to connect a pass from the back Masimba Mambare raised his boot high in the process planting it into Agbim’s right shoulder. He was immediately sent for an early shower by referee Victor Gomes.
With 73 minutes still to go Warriors coach Ian Gorowa had to make some tactical changes to cover up for the numerical disadvantage. He brought most players back and left Sithole ploughing a lonely furrow upfront. And so the pattern of the match was now hammered in stone; Nigeria attacking and Zimbabwe staying back, soaking up the pressure.
Zimbabwe could have taken the lead in the 32nd minute, but Sithole reacted slowly having controlled the ball well in the box giving Kwambe time to clear.
Chinonso had a clear shot at goal saved by George Chigova as the fans witnessed another careless and unimaginative display from the Super Eagles who dominated possession, but toiled in the final third.
The Warriors’ chances were few, but close. Danny Phiri almost caught the Nigerian keeper off guard with a long range effort in the 44th minute, but the ball swerved midair and missed the post by inches.
As the Nigerians’ chances dwindled and the clock ticked towards 60 minutes, Keshi sprung his sharpshooters Rabiu Ali and Uzoenyi from the bench to heighten the threat on the Zimbabwean goal. The Warriors meanwhile were creating chances of their own with Sithole giving the Nigerian defence some anxious moments.
In the 55th minute he found the side netting with a snap shot from a tight angle before he teed Kuda Mahachi in the box, but the keeper reacted quickly to scramble the ball to safety. Pyagbarra shot wide in the 67th minute before Uzoenyi’s attempt to curl the ball into the far corner was foiled by Chigova.
Zimbabwe’s best chance of the match came in the 84th minute when Mahachi outsprinted the defence, but his shot was saved by Agbim. Nigeria were still monopolising posession but were finding it difficult to circumvent Zimbabwe`s sentinels until the 86th minute when a cross from Uzoenyi was met b a powerful header from Obiozor to condemn the Warrior to fourth place. The last few minutes were frantic as Zimbabwe tried to find the equaliser which proved elusive.
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