Nigeria entered the game in Point Noire needing two clear goals for closer stake at the second ticket available in Group A. Spectacular plays from the whole team and goals from Ike Uche and Aaron Samuel with Vincent Enyeama keeping the saves between the woodwork saved the day for the Super Eagles
An Ike Uche converted penalty after the Congolese goalkeeper Massa clumsily clipped Emmanuel Emenike’s feet in the early minutes of the second half put Nigeriaahead on the way to its second victory and a reassuring hope for a place at next year’s African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea 2015
Early on in hthe game, the Super Eagles looked like a team that just came in to stop the Congolese from scoring a goal as they allowed the Red Devils take charge of the game from all corners while the boys in green did most of the defending.
Congo got close to scoring early on in the first half following a a defense lapse from the Super Eagles back four.
Although Nigeria pushed upfront in the first 45, they did not look convincing in the midfield and the Congolese front.
The first half ended with the two teams left with the thoughts for what the second half would be like but as it is football and since Africa remains Africa, the first 45 do not reflect what would happen in the second.
The Red Devils opened play after resumption and in their usual form pressed for an early one, with total concentration in the back, they left the gap in the middle which Nigeria tok advantage of through an unfamous hero, Mikwl who piloted the ball way into the Congolese half, a low drive from him to Emmanuel Emenike who rushed forward for what may have turned out a killer shot.
The Fenerbahce striker was brought down by an incoming Massa who was negligent of the risk of a miscalculated attempt to stop the big man, and under the boots he went, Nigeria awarded a penalty
Returnee Ike Uche turned up with a spectacular low-drive close angle kick which left the Congolese goalkeeper wandering on the turf of the Municipal stadium there in Point Noire.
With Nigeria leading the game as they did in Calabar, the Congolese charged forward for a reprisal attack and were awarded with a mistaken penalty which unfortunately for them and for Nigeria's blessings, they lost: Enyeama keeping a good eye on that.
The introduction of China based Aaron Samuel changed the game a lot. The 20 year-old made the drives from both the right and left side of the flanks, unsettling the now enraged but downed Congolese.
Balls flying here and there, tensions rising and the referee's whistle calling fouls, Nigeria went two goals clear when Aaron Samuel worked a very magnificient play to give the 2013 African Champions the chance to defend their title come 2015 in Equatorial Guinea.
Samuel took the chance and the risk was well worth it as he took a mid-range shot past Massa who was helpless without the defence who already had been dusted aside.
Nigeria's second goal changed the atmos[here on the pitch and the stands as furious fans would show their rage by throwing objects and cannisters to the pitch, prompting the referee to halt the game and a military action called to control the escalating behaviours of the supporters.
After resumption, and the referee's last whistle, Nigeria ran away 0-2 winners; a return of the same dose the Red Devils under Claude Le Roy served them at the UJ Esuene Stadium back in September.
