LAGOS AUGUST 15TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Relatively unknown Uche Nwofor grabbed a brace as the Super Eagles outclassed their South African counterparts, the Bafana Bafana, at the Moses Mabida Stadium, Durban on Wednesday.
The VVV Venlo striker, who came on for Newcastle’s forward, Shola Ameobi, opened his national team goal account in the 49th minute with an audacious back heel after a barren first half.
Nwofor, who is making his second appearance for the Super Eagles again won the heart of the country’s football followers with a tap-in to score his second goal as he connected a low cross from Chelsea’s wizardry midfielder, Victor Moses, in the 67th minute of the encounter.
Just before Nwofor broke the deadlock, Academica Coimbra of Portugal lanky midfielder, John Ogu, put South African goalkeeper, Thomas Khume, to test with a world class strike but the midfielder was denied by the cross bar.
Ogu again skipped away from his marker, then unleashes on Khune in the 41st minute of the tie.
Israel-based and Super Eagles goal keeper, Austin Ejide, stood between the goal and the South Africans as he made several saves to deny Bafana Bafana as the homers are known scoring opportunities.
Khume almost fumbled Obinna Nsofor’s shot into the net but the goalie quickly corrected his error.
A glorious chance that came the way of the South Africans was wasted as the Bafana Bafana strikers watched the ball roll harmlessly into the waiting hands of Austin Ejide.
On resumption for the second half, Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, brought in Uche Nwofor for Shola Ameobi as Sunday Mba was also replaced by Victor Moses while Obinna Nsofor was taken off for Ahmed Musa to add bite to the team’s attack. The tactics paid off as Uche Nwofor saw the back of the nets four minutes into the second half.
The African champions missed the opportunity of winning the Mandela Challenge when they lost by 1-2 to the South Africans in the 2004 edition of the competition.