Kenya go down fighting in Nigeria

Nigeria had to overcome stiff resistance to claim a deceptive win over Kenya. The scoreline was not reflective of the Kenyan effort on the day.

Like it was in 1997 and 2003, Nigeria on Sunday at the Abuja National Stadium beat visiting Harambee Stars of Kenya 3-0 to keep the chase on Group Two leaders Tunisia.

Spain-based Ikechukwu Uche opened scoring for the home side after just two minutes. However, it was in the second half that Nigeria enjoyed much respite from a hard working Kenyan side when Inter Milan ace Obinna Nsofor netted from the penalty spot after Osaze Odemwingie Peter won a dubious penalty.

Nsofor hit a brace four minutes later when he thundered home from inside the box. Tunisia stay top of the group with six points from two matches, while Nigeria are two points behind in second place. Both teams clash in Tunis in two weeks time at the Rades Stadium in a match that could well give a good indication of the overall leadership of this group.

First Half

A packed 60,000-capacity Abuja National Stadium, awash with Nigeria's colours of green and white, welcomed a youthful starting XI without high-profile absentees from the Super Eagles recent friendlies - Joseph Yobo, Mikel John Obi and Taye Taiwo.In the heart of the attack, goal hero against Republic of Ireland, Michael Eneramo, is preferred to Joseph Akpala, who grabbed the winner against France in Saint-Etienne.

Kenya also made three changes from the team that started against Tunisia in Nairobi in March - goalkeeper Arnold Origi and midfielders Patrick Oboya and Austin Makacha.It took Nigeria only two minutes to get off to the perfect start when Ikechukwu Uche found the back of the net. The Getafe forward combined with his older brother, Kalu Uche, but it was really a poor clearance by Kenyan defender, George Owino, that allowed Ikechukwu Uche to continue with his run on goal before he coolly drove home past goalkeeper Arnold Origi.

Even after his goal, Uche remained a constant danger to Kenya, while youngster Elderson Echejile grew so much in confidence that he even joined the attack from his left fullback position. Kenya's first attempt at goal came after quarter of an hour when Dennis Oliech let fly from distance but goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama saved easily.

The Harambee Stars steadily began to have a say in proceedings as they began to string passes between themselves. MacDonald Mariga tested Enyeama with a cleanly struck shot on 26 minutes, and a minute later, Oliech came even closer but his shot from the edge of 18-yard box shaved the crossbar.Disjointed play by Nigeria at this point in the encounter.

Oliech again came close in the 34th minute, when he found himself inside the box only to see his shot miss its mark. Moments later, Odemwingie would have doubled Nigeria's lead when he was set up by Ikechukwu Uche, but Origi blocked his powerful shot. The Russia-based striker wasted an even better chance three minutes later when his effort from top of the box missed target by inches. Just before the interval, Kenya's Origi spilled an Ikechukwu cross from the right but Esperance of Tunisia striker Eneramo could not take advantage of this clanger with the ball metres from the goaline.

Second Half

Nigeria make one change by the interval - Nwankwo Kanu in for an annonymous Dickson Etuhu. The Super eagles go into attack immediately after the restart.In the 54th minute, Odemwingie's effort from an acute angle on the left is scrambled awayby Origi for a corner.

But in the 62nd minute, Kenya had two chances in quick succession - Auxerre's Oliech was involved in both occasions, first he preferred to square the ball with the Nigerian defence on the back foot and seconds later, he again decided to pass the ball inside the box after he had rounded up goalkeeper Enyeama. It was a big let-off for Nigeria, who finally got the buffer goal in the 72nd minute when substitute Obinna Nsofor tucked home a penalty.

Goal-bound Osaze fell too easily in the box and Moroccan referee El Achiri Abdellah pointed to the penalty spot. Four minutes Nsofor thundered home from inside the box for Nigeria's third goal. A move started by Kanu saw Echejile thread through a cross from the left, Ikechukwu miskicked to allow Nsofor control the ball before firing home.Nsofor almost completed a hat-trick five minutes from time but his low shot missed target only just.

Nigeria - Vincent Enyeama - Yusuf Mohammed, Dele Adeleye, Sam Sodje (Onyekachi Apam 76), Elderson Echejile, Seyi Olofinjana (Capt), Kalu Uche, Dickson Etuhu (Nwankwo Kanu 45) - Ikechukwu Uche, Michael Eneramo (Obinna Nsofor 54), Osaze Odemwingie
Coach: Shuaibu Amodu

Kenya - Arnold origi - Julius Owino, George Owino, Musa Otieno (Capt), John Njoroge - Austin Makacha, MacDonald Mariga, Robert Mambo Mumba (Allan Wanga 65), Pascal Ochieng, Patrick Oboya (Victor Mugabe 74) - Dennis Oliech (Peter Opiyo 87)
Coach: Antoine Hey

Samm Audu, Goal.com