THE Super Eagles on Saturday at the Stade Municipal, Pointe-Noire kept Nigeria's dream of qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alive with a 2-0 defeat of the Red Devils of the Republic of the Congo.
The result puts Nigeria in the second position in group A with seven points as Bafana Bafana of South Africa maintains lead now with 10 points following their 2-1 victory over Sudan also on Saturday.
It was a sweet revenge for the Eagles which had earlier in the first round lost 2-3 to the Red Devils in Calabar, while the match hero in Point-Noire turned out to be goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama with his heroic performance.
After a barren situation in the first half, returnee Ikechukwu Uche who last played for Nigeria 19 months ago shot the Eagles into the lead in the 59th minute with a spot-kick, after goal-bound Emmanuel Emenike, was brought down in the box by the onrushing goalkeeper Chancel Massa.
The embattled Congolese lost what would have given an equaliser and some respite in the 64th minute as Enyeama saved the penalty kick taken by Thievy Bifouma, after Godfrey Oboabona was believed to have palmed the shot taken by Prince Oniangue.
The save gave the Eagles more elixir to complete the Miracle of Point-Noire, as China-based Aaron Samuel in the 89th minute out of sheer brilliance beat Massa with a left-footed curled drive to seal the victory for the reigning African champions.
It was Samuel's second goal for Nigeria in two appearances having scored against Sudan in Abuja.
Disappointed home fans brought the game to a standstill as they began to throw missiles onto the pitch before sanity was later restored.
The Super Eagles however, need victory over Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Wednesday, November 19 at the newly-commissioned Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo, to seal their passage to AFCON 2015 now to be staged by Equatorial Guinea with 10 points.
The Red Devils of Congo are however, still in the race as they need to beat Sudan on Wednesday in Khartoum to finish on 10 points and pray the match between Nigeria and South Africa end in a draw.
Caption: Ik Uche scores the opening goal in Congo.
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