Kenya 0-1 Nigeria: Ahmed Musa goal stuns Harambee Stars in Nairobi
Kenya 0-1 Nigeria: Ahmed Musa goal stuns Harambee Stars in Nairobi
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Kenya’s hopes of reaching 2014 World Cup final in Brazil
were dashed on Wednesday after winger Ahmed Musa scored a late goal to
silence Stars
Nigeria winger Ahmed Musa scored a late goal to dim Kenya’s hopes of
reaching the 2014 World Cup final to be held in Brazil after the Super
Eagles won 1-0 at Kasarani on Wednesday .
Musa latched onto a through ball from John Obi Mikel to beat his
marker David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng’ before beautiful chipping the ball over
the advancing goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng’ in Kenyan goal.
The win now takes Nigeria back to the top of Group F with 8 points
while Malawi are second on six after battling to a 0-0 draw with Namibia
in a match played in Blantyre earlier on Wednesday.
Kenya, who had win to keep alive their hopes of gracing the World Cup
final, started the match badly with defender Brian Mandela almost
handing the visitors a quick goal in the 1st minute of the match.
The South African-based defender failed to deal with a loose ball
after restart allowing Nigerian striker Brian Ideye to charge forward
but the Super Eagles’ star could not find the back of the net with
keeper Ochieng’ to beat.
Five minutes later, Musa Ahmed beat the Kenyan defense but his
attempt to pick out an advancing Sunday Mba was blocked by Brian
Mandela.
The Kenyans were having a great time in midfield and Oman-based Jamal
Mohammed was showing some awesome creativity though he appeared
self-fish sometimes.
In the 10th minute with Kepha Aswani advancing towards the Nigerian
goal, Mohammed hesitated and allowed the Nigerian defense to recover
lost ground.
One minute later, Nigeria had their first free-kick which Chelsea
star John Obi Mikel lifting it high towards the Kenyan goal and rested
on the side netting.
Duncun Ochieng in goal threw the ball quickly to a running Victor
Wanyama but he failed to keep it into play. In the 13th minute, the
visitors got their second free-kick just near the Kenyan goal but Musa
Ahmed’s shot was defended well.
Kenya got the first corner in the 24th minute when Francis Kahata
efforts to beat Efe Ambrose in the Nigerian defense ended in vain.
Ambrose was forced to come out and stop Kahata once again in the 29th
minute after Jamal Mohammed had picked him out with a splitting pass
but Stars could only get a corner from the effort.
Kepha Aswani making his return to the Kenyan team after a long time
was a pale shadow of himself and he looked injured as he time and again
limped. He never made any effort at goal allowing Vincent Enyeama to
have a long rest in the first half.
Nigeria got their first corner of the match in the 34th minute when a
goal bound Musa Ahmed was stopped in his tracks by David Ochieng.
Four minutes later, Ahmed’s shot was deflected by Mandela and calmly
picked by Duncun Ochieng’, who made a throw to Johanna Omollo and he
made the first attempt at goal but his effort was stopped by Vincent
Enyeama.
The Kenyans were gaining confidence as the first half wore off and
Peter Opiyo made the second shot at the Nigerian goal in the 39th
minute.
Nigeria got their second corner in the 43rd minute but it was the
home team who ended the first half on a high note with Victor Wanyama
coming close only to shoot wide.
The worst would come with less that 15 minutes left to play, Stephen
Waruru giving away possession cheaply in the opponent’s third, a counter
attack resulting in Ahmed Musa lifting the ball over an advancing
Duncun Ochieng.
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