Nigeria failed to consolidate on their
leadership in Group F on Wednesday as the Brave Warriors of Namibia and
the Super Eagles played 1-1 in their second leg fixture of the World Cup
qualifying series in Windhoek.
The 2-2 draw played out between Malawi
and Kenya in Blantyre earlier on Wednesday had opened the doors for
Nigeria to take the unassailable in the group should they beat Namibia.
But it was not to...
be as the Eagles failed to take their chances despite
having several opportunities to punish their hosts right from the first
half.
It could have been a sad ending for the
African champions after Deon Kavendji Hotto latched on a pass from
Tangeni Shipahu to put the hosts in the lead on 83rd minute. But Nigeria
made a quick response, pushing the Namibians back until a free kick was
awarded to the visitors.
Sunshine Stars defender, Godfrey
Oboaboana, registered his name on the scorers’ chart in the African
qualifiers with an impressive free kick in the 77th minute to extend
Nigeria’s lead in the group.
The result means Nigeria have remained
unbeaten in 17 matches since June last year. They have only lost to
Egypt and Peru in friendly games last year.
Namibia are technically out of the race
in the qualifying series after garnering five points, two ahead of Kenya
who are bottom of the log without a win.
Nigeria now have nine points from five
games, leading Malawi with two points. Only the last game between the
two sides will truly separate them and decide who go through to the
playoffs for the World Cup. The Malawians will need to win on their
visit to Nigeria, while the Super Eagles will hope to have at least a
point from the encounter in September.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will leave
for Brazil today (Thursday) for the FIFA Confederation Cup which starts
on Saturday. The team will face Tahiti in their Group B game on Monday.
Spain and Uruguay are the other teams in the group.
Namibia = Deon Motto 77'
Nigeria = Godfrey Obobona 83'
Line Up for Namibia
G
16 Virgil Vries
D
2 Denzil Haoseb
D
4 Willem Mwedihanga
D
6 Larry Horaeb
D
12 Chris Katjiukua
M
19 Petrus Shitembi
M
20 Neville Tjiueza
M
22 Freedom Puriza
F
10 Tangeni Shipahu
F 9 Sadney Urikhob
F
11 Lazarus Kaimbi
M 7 Deon Motto
F
21 Jacob Pineas
M 8 Willy Stephanus
Substitutes
POS No Name
G 1 Maximilian Mbaeva
G 23 Efraim Tjihonge
D 3 Ananias Gebhardt
D 5 Dennis Ngueza
D 13 Emilio Martinez
M 7 Deon Motto
M 8 Willy Stephanus
M 14 Bryan Bantam
M 15 Bradley Wermann
F 9 Sadney Urikhob
F 18 Harold Ochurub
Nigeria Line-up
POS No Name
G
1 Vincent Enyeama
D
2 Godfrey Obobona
D
3 Elderson
D
5 Efe Ambrose
D
22 Kenneth Omeruo
M
10 John Mikel Obi
M
17 Ogenyi Onazi
M
19 Sunday Mbah
M 13 Fengor Ogude
F
7 Ahmed Musaab
F
11 Nnamdi Oduamadi
M 4 John Ogu
F
20 Anthony Ujah
substitutes
POS No Name
G 16 Austin Amamchukwu Ejide
G 23 Chigozie Agbim
D 6 Azubuike Egwueke
D 12 S Kwambe
D 14 Benjamin Francis
D 18 Ebenezer Odunlami
M 4 John Ogu
M 13 Fengor Ogude
M 15 Michel Babatunde
F 8 Brown Ideye
F 9 Joseph Akpala
F 21 Gambo Mohammed
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