…South Africa Beats Benin 2-0 and Lesotho Forces Rwanda to 1-1 Draw
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BY ENIOLA OLATUNJI
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Visiting Warriors of Zimbabwe on Tuesday surprised the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their world cup qualifier at Uyo turning the team that shined last week to Sleeping Eagles which was their state before the new Coach, Echelle took over.
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The Eagles played individual game avoiding tackles for fear of collateral damage through injuries making the Zimbabweans feel truly they have not come for holiday they could clinch a winner and the promised $150,000 winning Prize.
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Irrepressible Victor Osimhen got a decoder from overlapping Ola Aina to score the opening goal at the 74th minute but as fans were hopeful of a 1-0 victory, 21 year old Tawanda Chirewa who plys his trade in UK got a floater from Maswanhise to equalize in 90th minute.
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Truly the Eagles were sleeping conceding the highest fouls 10-5; with the only two yellow cards going to Zimbabwe that had more ball possessions of 58-42 meaning they were in control of the match. I had said Nigeria will only win if they are more clinical at goal but the Eagles had 10-2 shots at goal with both teams securing 3-3 shots on target. Nigeria had 6-1 corner Kicks and 18-10 throwing-ins.
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With the results, every head swung to Abidjan where South Africa gleefully stopped Benin Republic 2-0. Foster scored 58th minute and Adams made it 2-0 in the 84th minute.
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Rwanda hopelessly played 1-1 with Lesotho. Kwizera opened scoring in the 58th and Fothoane equalized in the 82nd minute.
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There is a thing going round that FIFA could deduct three points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player who had issues with two yellow cards. Even if that decision is upheld, it will not scratch the South Africans.
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South Africa after today’s fixtures in group C has 13 points scored 10 goals and conceded 5; Rwanda is 2nd with 8 points scoring 4 goals and conceding 4; Benin Republic is 3rd with 8 points scoring 6 goals and conceding 7; Nigeria is 4th with 7 points 7 goals for and 6 goals against; Lesotho is 5th with 6 points 4 goals for and 5 goals against and Zambia despite the motivator $150,000 is still at the bottom with 4 points 5 goals for and 9 goals against.
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Next four matches for Nigeria will be against Rwanda at Uyo on 1st September; Play in South Africa in a crucial match on 8th September; travel to less fancied Lesotho on 6th October and wait for an all-important game against Benin Republic on 13th October.
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The September matches in Group C are Benin vs Zimbabwe; Lesotho vs South Africa; Nigeria vs Rwanda; South Africa vs Nigeria; Benin vs Lesotho and Zimbabwe vs Rwanda.
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Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#FIFA #CAF #NFF #ZIFA.
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