Eagles Defeats Malawi 2-0 To Move To Last Round Of World Cup Qualifiers

Calabar broke into spontaneous celebration last night as the Super Eagles became one of the 10 teams to contest for five World Cup tickets as they overwhelmed Malawi, 2-0.

It was a great relief as the game was initially under the threat of possible postponement owing to persistent showers that initially made the pitch seemingly unsuitable for the match.

Even up till one hour to the kick off, the match officials were still pondering on possible postponement as they conducted the simple test of bouncing a ball on the water-logged pitch.

Barely 30 minutes to the kick off, the weather became favourable and the apparently well laid pitch had absorbed the rain water and the stage got set for a final battle to the final battle.

What a day for the Super Eagles! For the first time in the World Cup qualifier, Emmanuel Emenike broke the first half goal-duck that had afflicted the Super Eagles as he smashed in a goal just at the nick of time in the 44th minute to set the, hitherto, restive crowd at the UJ Esuene Stadium agog.

Before then, the Flames of Malawi had held on gamely with a water-tight defence, even as the razor-sharp Nigerian strikers sliced in as hot knife would cut through butter.

Yet, the Nigerian overwhelming dominant ball possession that could be easily computed as 75% to 15% did not translate into goals until just a minute to half time.

This brought to an end, the misery of the previous five World Cup qualifying games. What a frightening first half it looked as the Malawians appeared to answers to the skillful ball distribution of the Nigerians and just making sporadic forays up front.

Perhaps, the most tensed moment was in the 35th minute when a direct free kick close to Nigeria’s post was cleverly taken by Nyondo Atusaye, the Malawian striker who had the penchant for scoring away goals. It would be recalled that it was also in the 35th minute that Nigeria conceded the free kick goal in the game with Kenya five months earlier on the same ground.

It was a great relief for Nigeria to go into half time with a lead. Returning, they came out with ferocious attack that disorganized the Malawians who then knew they must come out and attack if they were to move on in the competition.

It proved costly for them as barely a minute into the re-start, Ahmed Musa could have doubled Nigeria’s lead as he missed a glaring chance. Pressure continued to pile up. In the 47th minute it was the turn of Emmanuel Emenike to miss a one-on-one chance.

Under severe pressure, Mzava Moses fouled Nnamdi Oduamadi for a penalty kick converted by Victor Moses in the 51st minute.

For the first time, in six World Cup qualifying games, Nigeria was able to double a lead.

Great thanks to Malawian goalkeeper, Swini Charles, it could have been a heavy goal tally against his team.

He was there, foiling many goal-bound shots and in one instance, was injured. He refused to be substituted as he carried on. What an entertaining second half it was for the Nigerian side as the Super Eagles moved the ball almost effortlessly on the pitch making the Malawians look more like spectators on the field. On, at least two occasions, they made 12 passes.

Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, was virtually on holiday as Nigeria joins nine other teams for the final attempt to get the tickets for World Cup 2014.

Nigeria took the lead of the group with 12 points, five clear of the second-placed Malawi.

Nigeria now has two matches, one at home and the other away to get to Brazil 2014 World Cup. They are just 180 minutes away! They will know their final opponent on Thursday when the draws are made.

They are certainly not going to face Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Tunisia.