Two second-half goals were enough to hand the Super
Eagles a win against Bafana in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at the Moses
Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday.
Two second-half goals from Uche Nwafor gave Nigeria a 2-0
victory over South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge.
South Africa took time to settle and struggled with
possession initially.
However, Nigeria failed to capitalise on the hosts'
unconvincing start as Nnamdi Oduamadi and Sunday Mba were both denied by Bafana
Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
Though Nigeria nearly broke the deadlock through John
Ogu, whose cheeky chip clipped the crossbar, leaving Khume a mere spectator.
Rantie tried his luck from distance moments later, but
the Super Eagles keeper Austine Ejide made a comfortable save.
Khune had to make a difficult save to deny Victor Obinna
in the 33rd minute, as Nigeria looked to break the deadlock before half time.
Khune again denied the Super Eagles the opening goal with
a fine save in the 42nd minute, after well taken shot by Ogu from outside the
Bafana penalty area.
Rantie had a chance to put Bafana in the lead a few
seconds later, but his shot hit the wrong side of the net.
Bafana should have been 1-nil up on the stroke of
halftime, but Letsholonyane was wasteful from Parker’s low cross, as the
dreadlocked midfielder had too many touches inside the Nigeria box.
Bafana had a brighter second half start and won a
free-kick on the left hand side of the Nigerian box in the 46th minute after a
foul on Parker, and the Chiefs hitman dusted himself up to whip in a beautiful
cross that was punched away by Ejide, but the Super Eagles keeper made amends
to deny Thabo Nthethe with a brilliant save, as Bafana won an early corner.
Nigeria then took the lead through substitute Uche Nwafor
with a cheeky finish in the 48th minute after the Bafana defence was caught
napping.
South Africa tried hard to get the equalizer, but they
often lacked composure as they blasted most of their chances over the bar.
Stephen Keshi introduced Chelsea’s Victor Moses after the
hour-mark and the Nigerian forward changed the complexion of the game with his
dangerous runs.
Nwafor broke South Africa’s hearts with an easy tap-in in
the 67th minute after a skilful display from the Nigerians split the Bafana
defence to eventually beat the helpless Khune.
Substitute Lerato Chabangu saw his long range shot sail
over the bar, as he looked to catch Ejide off-guard for Bafana’s first goal
against Nigeria in nine years.
Ahmed Musa came close in the 90th minute with a
brilliantly played cross which nearly beat Khune, but it flashed across the
face of goal.
Tshabalala had his shot blocked by Ejide, as the Super
Eagles held on to their 2-0 lead to be crowned the Nelson Mandela Challenge
champions.
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