Vincent Enyeama was the
hero for Nigeria saving one
penalty and then scoring the
crucial final one to help his
side seal a place in the
African Nations Cup semi-
finals with a shoot-out
victory over Zambia.
The Super Eagles, outplayed
for large parts of the clash
in Lubango, looked to be
heading for the exit door
after struggling in the face of
their determined opponents,
who did everything apart
from finding the back of the
net during the 120 minutes of
open play.
They had chances aplenty, in
the second half especially,
but failed to convert any with
the heartbreak of spot-kicks
eventually deciding their fate
- Thomas Nyrienda missing
the one penalty that made all
the difference.
It handed Shaibu Amodu's
team a place in the last four,
where they will face fierce
west African rivals Ghana on
Thursday.
But in what was an
indifferent showing, they
looked the more dangerous
of the two sides through the
opening exchanges of the
game, with their confidence
from the 3-0 win over
Mozambique in their last
group game still evident.
Despite their dominance,
though, they failed to carve
out too many openings.
In fact, it was the Zambians
that created the first real
scare when a Felix Katongo
corner caused some
discomfort for goalkeeper
Enyeama who charged off his
line and flapped at thin air.
At the other end, the first
shot for Nigeria came in the
15th minute when Dickson
Etuhu struck a low 20-yard
effort straight at Kennedy
Mweene, before the
Chipolopolo goalkeeper was
forced into a scrambled save
after a sweeping move from
Nigeria ended with a low 20-
yard strike from John Obi
Mikel.
Jacob Mulenga tried to hit
back for his side with a good
lay off for Chris Katongo that
was nodded wide from close
range, while James
Chamanga then missed the
best chance of the half for
his side when he only partly
connected a pin-point cross
from the left as the sides
went in level at the break.
Herve Renard's men began
the second half positively
with Felix cutting inside from
the left and unleashing a 25-
yard strike that bounced
wickedly in front of Enyeama,
who was taken by surprise
as the ball deflected off his
body and away from the
danger area.
There was certainly a spring
in the step of the Zambians
with Mulenga and Chamanga
both carving out half-
chances, before Hijani
Himonde saw his six-yard
header from a Felix corner
scrambled off the line by
Yusuf Mohamed.
Ayegbeni Yakubu then found
himself free at the back post,
but took too long to pull the
trigger as the Super Eagles
looked rattled by their plucky
opponents.
Another Felix corner and
another goal-line clearance
was needed to prevent the
opener - Mohamed again the
saviour as Mulenga tried to
capitalise with a quick shot.
With time running out
Emmanuel Mayuka put a free
header into the crowd and
Mulenga shot agonisingly
wide as the game went into
extra time.
The tempo seemed to have
lifted when the game was
restarted with substitute
Victor Obinna playing in a
good low cross to Obafemi
Martins from the left, but the
Wolfsburg pulled his shot
wide.
But the Nigerians then went
back into a shell as they sat
back and watched their
opponents show plenty of
endeavour without reward -
the two sides reaching the
105-minute mark still
inseparable.
The start of the final period
was just as sprightly, but
this time in favour of the
Zambians, who gained the
advantage after Onyekachi
Apam was given his marching
orders following a second
caution for a push on
Emmanuel Mayuka.
William Njovu and Martins
both had chances to win the
game late on, but were let
down by poor finishing
leaving the game to be
decided by penalties.
Mikel, Martins, Obinna, Peter
Odemwingie and Enyeama all
scored for their side, but
despite Noah Chivuta,
Katongo, Mayuka and
Mweene netting for Zambia,
Nyrienda missed the crucial
fourth kick when Enyeama
made an impressive stop to
his right.
The Hapoel Tel Aviv
goalkeeper then stepped up
to score the goal and kill off
the brave southern Africans.
February 21, 2010, 03:45:45 PM