The Home-based Super Eagles of Nigeria booked a place in the Quarter-Finals of the on-going African Championship by beating hosts, Bafana Bafana of South Africa by three goals to one.
The match, which was played at the Cape Town Stadium, was one the Eagles had to win to entertain any hopes of progressing to the next round. After being roundly condemned for their lackluster showing in their first two games at the tournament, the Eagles were out to prove a point. Wing sensation, Ejike Uzoenyi put Nigeria ahead in 22nd minute when he finished off a pass from Ifeanyi Ede.
They doubled their lead 10 minute later in the 32nd minute after Ifeanyi Ede converted a penalty kick awarded after Gbolahan Salami had been brought down in the box by Josephs, the Bafana Keeper. Nigeria completed the rout in the 64th minute when Uzoenyi, who got the Man of the Match award for the second match running, scored a beautiful left footer after a good team movement by the Nigerians. Uzoenyi was not done as he hit the bar six minutes later after another lovely footwork from the Nigerian team.
Solomon Kwambe was sent off in the 73rd minute after he was given a straight red card for a foul on an opponent. 2 minutes later, it was the turn of South African captain, Vuyo Mere, to take an early shower as he was also sent off in the 75th minute after a second bookable offence leaving both teams to play the rest of the match with 10 men each.
The host nation got a goal in the 82nd minute when Bernard Parker scored from the penalty spot but it was scant consolation for the Bafana Bafana as they crashed out of the competition after. It ensured that their miserable run against their continental bogey team continued as they have been able to beat Nigeria just once in a Nelson Mandela Challenge game in back in October 2004.
