15-08-2013, 10:50 AM
Pretoria - The Super Eagles of Nigeria notched their sixth win over South Africa when they beat Bafana Bafana 2-0 in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge match at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday night.
Wednesday’s victory made it six wins in eight matches for the defending African champions against Bafana, who have since registered one win over the West Africans.
The Super Eagles started the match showing why they are the African champions and as the home team continued to show them too much respect, the Nigerians were controlling ball possession.
In the 6th minute, Bafana were awarded the first free kick of the match after Bernard Parker was brought down by John Ogu, and Thuso Phala got a yellow card for taking the free kick before the whistle, a harsh decision by the referee. Siphiwe Tshabalala took the free-kick, but Ogu cleared it away.
On the 10th minute, a long ball almost found Nnamdi Oduamadi in the box, after Tsepo Masilela was caught napping on the left back, but as always Bafana skipper Itumeleng Khune raced off his line and kept the ball out of the path of the striker.
Moments later, the Nigerian full-back, Uwa Echiejile made a brilliant run into the box and tried a spectacular volley, but it flew into the crowd on the stands.
Bafana created a good counter attack led by Reneilwe Letsholonyane, who passed the ball to Phala who wasted the opportunity by playing a back pass instead of striking a shot and the Super Eagles cleared it easily.
In the 24th minute, Parker created a great chance for Tshabalala down the left flank, but his cross, which evaded a sliding Tshabalala by a whisker, was too strong.
The Super Eagles edged closer to the opener in the 27th minute when Ogu unleashed a volley from outside the box, which beat Khune for pace, but crashed into the cross bar.
Ogu continued to trouble Khune with another shot in the 34th minute, which he took outside the box. Although the shot took an awkward bounce, Khune managed to keep the ball from entering the net.
Just five minutes before half-time, Thulani Hlatshwayo got a yellow card following his late challenge and a minute later, Ogu took another powerful long range shot, which was brilliantly saved by Khune.
Moments before the referee blew the whistle for the half-time break, Parker found space down the left hand side of midfield and sent a cross into the path of Letsholonyane, but the midfielder's effort was blocked by Godfrey Oboabona.
The first 45 minutes saw Bafana battling to keep the ball, leading the Super Eagles to be all over them, especially in the midfield where Letsholonyane and Dean Furman were struggling to stop the Nigerians from attacking.
The changes made by the Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi when he brought in Victor Moses for Sunday Mba and Ahmed Musa for Obinna Nsofor and Uche Nwafor for Shola Ameobi paid off three minutes into the second-half.
As the Bafana defence was torn apart by the Super Eagles, the substitute, Nwafor scored with an impeccable back heel from inside the box.
Free State Stars wide player Luvuyo Nomandela earned his first Bafana Bafana cap, when he replaced Phala in the 60th minute.
Two minutes later, Letsholonyane hit a somewhat disappointing, very high shot into the stands. The shocking shot was met with a chorus of boos by the home crowd.
The goal made the home team continue struggling for ball possession, while the introduction of Moses and Musa tested the strength of Bafana’s defence.
Following a clinical move by Moses and Musa, Nwafor doubled his tally in the 68th minute to give his home country a 2-0 lead.
Igesund replaced a tired looking Letsholonyane and brought in Lerato Chabangu, who took a long range shot shortly after he was introduced, but unfortunately the shot clipped the top of the net.
After taking a free-kick, Parker was replaced by Lebogang Manyama in the 80th minute.
Bafana will play against Burkina Faso at the inaugural Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day at FNB stadium on Saturday. - SAnews.gov.za
Wednesday’s victory made it six wins in eight matches for the defending African champions against Bafana, who have since registered one win over the West Africans.
The Super Eagles started the match showing why they are the African champions and as the home team continued to show them too much respect, the Nigerians were controlling ball possession.
In the 6th minute, Bafana were awarded the first free kick of the match after Bernard Parker was brought down by John Ogu, and Thuso Phala got a yellow card for taking the free kick before the whistle, a harsh decision by the referee. Siphiwe Tshabalala took the free-kick, but Ogu cleared it away.
On the 10th minute, a long ball almost found Nnamdi Oduamadi in the box, after Tsepo Masilela was caught napping on the left back, but as always Bafana skipper Itumeleng Khune raced off his line and kept the ball out of the path of the striker.
Moments later, the Nigerian full-back, Uwa Echiejile made a brilliant run into the box and tried a spectacular volley, but it flew into the crowd on the stands.
Bafana created a good counter attack led by Reneilwe Letsholonyane, who passed the ball to Phala who wasted the opportunity by playing a back pass instead of striking a shot and the Super Eagles cleared it easily.
In the 24th minute, Parker created a great chance for Tshabalala down the left flank, but his cross, which evaded a sliding Tshabalala by a whisker, was too strong.
The Super Eagles edged closer to the opener in the 27th minute when Ogu unleashed a volley from outside the box, which beat Khune for pace, but crashed into the cross bar.
Ogu continued to trouble Khune with another shot in the 34th minute, which he took outside the box. Although the shot took an awkward bounce, Khune managed to keep the ball from entering the net.
Just five minutes before half-time, Thulani Hlatshwayo got a yellow card following his late challenge and a minute later, Ogu took another powerful long range shot, which was brilliantly saved by Khune.
Moments before the referee blew the whistle for the half-time break, Parker found space down the left hand side of midfield and sent a cross into the path of Letsholonyane, but the midfielder's effort was blocked by Godfrey Oboabona.
The first 45 minutes saw Bafana battling to keep the ball, leading the Super Eagles to be all over them, especially in the midfield where Letsholonyane and Dean Furman were struggling to stop the Nigerians from attacking.
The changes made by the Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi when he brought in Victor Moses for Sunday Mba and Ahmed Musa for Obinna Nsofor and Uche Nwafor for Shola Ameobi paid off three minutes into the second-half.
As the Bafana defence was torn apart by the Super Eagles, the substitute, Nwafor scored with an impeccable back heel from inside the box.
Free State Stars wide player Luvuyo Nomandela earned his first Bafana Bafana cap, when he replaced Phala in the 60th minute.
Two minutes later, Letsholonyane hit a somewhat disappointing, very high shot into the stands. The shocking shot was met with a chorus of boos by the home crowd.
The goal made the home team continue struggling for ball possession, while the introduction of Moses and Musa tested the strength of Bafana’s defence.
Following a clinical move by Moses and Musa, Nwafor doubled his tally in the 68th minute to give his home country a 2-0 lead.
Igesund replaced a tired looking Letsholonyane and brought in Lerato Chabangu, who took a long range shot shortly after he was introduced, but unfortunately the shot clipped the top of the net.
After taking a free-kick, Parker was replaced by Lebogang Manyama in the 80th minute.
Bafana will play against Burkina Faso at the inaugural Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day at FNB stadium on Saturday. - SAnews.gov.za