Super Eagles survives Harambee Stars scare

Fans before the match in Calabar

Super Eagles on Saturday survived a scare against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the two sides played at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Cross River State.

The East African team that is handled by Algerian born coach Adel Amrouche went ahead in the 36^th minute through a spectacular strike from a free-kick just outside the Eagles’ eighteen-yard box.

The Eagles struggled to get back into the game but could not get a goal in despite the stellar efforts of Chelsea duo of Victor Moses and Mikel Obi. Brown Ideye could also not pull the team level despite several chances in front of goal.

Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins, who was making a return to the team after some time away had to be replaced with Ahmed Musa about midway into the second half, yet no goals came.

It was not until the extra time that Nnamdi Oduamadi who had come in for Victor Moses just some few minutes earlier fired a great shot from close range to draw the Eagles level and save the African champions from the upsetting result for which the match was headed.

This result means that the Eagles retains its position at the head of Group F with five points while Malawi which defeated Namibia 1-0 follows with the same number of points but ranks lower on goals difference. Namibia is third with three points while Kenya remains last in the group with two points.

Nigeria’s next match is against Kenya again on June 7^th in Nairobi and will be followed by another one against Namibia before the last qualifying match against Malawi towards the end of the year.

In other 2014 World Cup qualifying matches also played on the continent, DR Congo beat Gabon 1-0 while Cameroun defeated Togo 2-1.