14th August, 2013
Nigeria’s Super Eagles beat hosts Bafana Bafana in the international friendly in South Africa Wednesday, with two goals in the second half by substitute Uche Nwofor, who plays for VVV Venlo in the Netherlands.
Nigeria is Africa’s champion and tackled the South Africans at Moses Mabhida Stadium in the 19th edition of the Nelson Mandela Challenge.
Uche Nwofor emerged from the international wilderness Wednesday to bag the brace as Nigeria outplayed South Africa.
The 21-year-old striker came on at half-time for the African champions and scored after 49 and 68 minutes at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
His only previous international cap was won as an 18-year-old in a 2010 friendly against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nwofor back-heeled the ball past goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune for the first goal and tapped a cross over the line for the second in cool, dry late winter conditions
A comfortable victory for the ‘Super Eagles’ in Indian Ocean city Durban was achieved without a number of stars, including midfielder John Obi Mikel and striker Emmanuel Emenike.
Mikel from Chelsea was a late withdrawal owing to a stomach bug while coach Stephen Keshi agreed that Emenike needed to settle in at his new club, Fenerbahce of Turkey.
After a largely uneventful opening 45 minutes, Keshi introduced Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa and Nwofor, and they injected pace and penetration that South Africa could not combat.
Nigeria have won six and drawn one of eight internationals against Bafana Bafana (The Boys), who last scored against their African nemesis nine years ago.