ARENA PANTENAL — Peter Odemwingie’s first-half goal gave Nigeria a 1-0 win over Bosnia in World Cup Group F football match on Saturday and condemned the European team to an early exit in their first appearance in the finals.
Reuters
The Nigerians’ first World Cup finals victory since 1998 put them on four points from two games, two less than Argentina who they meet in the final group match on Wednesday with top spot at stake.
Nigeria took the lead after 29 minutes when Odemwingie fed Emmanuel Emenike on the right wing and raced into the box to receive the striker’s low return before clipping the ball under goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
The Bosnian bench angrily protested that Emenike had fouled captain Emir Spahic as he bundled past him into the box before making his cross.
The tournament newcomers had earlier been denied a goal in a poor offside decision against striker Edin Dzeko after he ran on to a through pass and beat goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama in the 21st minute.
Dzeko had another shot saved by Enyeama, but he was well off target with chances later in the half as he fought a lonely battle with the Nigeria defence.
The more experienced Nigerians, playing in their fifth World Cup, created several chances in the first half, but were let down by the final pass, poor control or wayward shooting and a couple of smart diving saves by Begovic.
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The Bosnia keeper made a string of saves to keep his side in the match in a second half of end-to-end excitement and Dzeko’s shot was deflected on to the post deep into stoppage time.
