CUIABÁ, Brazil - Nigeria ended a 16-year wait for a victory in a World Cup match, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1-0, on Saturday and knocking Bosnia, a tournament newcomer, out of contention.
Peter Odemwingie scored the game's only goal from close range in the 29th minute after one of many powerful runs by his strike partner Emmanuel Emenike.
Playing hours after Ghana's plucky 2-2 draw with Germany, Nigeria gave African soccer another lift after the continent's inauspicious start to the tournament. Before Saturday, the five African teams had claimed just one win and a draw in seven matches in Brazil.
Nigeria, however, now needs only a point from its last Group F game, against Argentina, which has already qualified, to reach the knockout stage.
'It's something awesome for Africa,' said Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who tipped Edin Dzeko's shot into the post in the final few seconds to preserve the victory. 'Africa needed that win, something to boost the confidence back home.'
Dzeko appeared to score in the 21st minute, but the goal was disallowed because of an offside call. Replays suggested the officials may have made the wrong call.
'The referee was shameful for this competition,' Dzeko said.
Still, Nigeria deserved its win, with Emenike causing all sorts of problems for Bosnia's defense with his strength and running in energy-sapping conditions. At the other end, the experienced Joseph Yobo was back as captain and marshaled the defense in his 99th international game. Dzeko and the Bosnians' technical midfielders carved out few clear-cut opportunities.
'They surprised us with their speed and movement,' Bosnia Coach Safet Susic said. 'They wanted to win probably that much more than us.'
Nigeria took the lead when Emenike powered past a tame challenge by Bosnia defender Emir Spahic, charged down the right flank and sent a cross to Odemwingie, who shot through the legs of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic - his teammate at the English club Stoke.
Odemwingie, back with the national team after two years away, started after an impressive cameo as a substitute in a 0-0 draw with Iran.
'I couldn't dream of a better comeback in a tournament like the World Cup,' Odemwingie said. 'I have had to start building from scratch. Everyone had faith in me.'
After the goal, Nigeria dominated, and only a slew of smart saves by Begovic, who denied Michael Babatunde and Emenike, prevented Nigeria from increasing its lead.
Graphic: World Cup 2014: How Teams Can Advance to the Next Round
Entities 0 Name: Nigeria Count: 8 1 Name: Bosnia Count: 5 2 Name: Brazil Count: 2 3 Name: Emenike Count: 2 4 Name: Odemwingie Count: 2 5 Name: Africa Count: 2 6 Name: Joseph Yobo Count: 1 7 Name: Emir Spahic Count: 1 8 Name: Dzeko Count: 1 9 Name: Argentina Count: 1 10 Name: Safet Susic Count: 1 11 Name: Ghana Count: 1 12 Name: Iran Count: 1 13 Name: Germany Count: 1 14 Name: Michael Babatunde Count: 1 15 Name: Asmir Begovic Count: 1 16 Name: CUIABÁ Count: 1 17 Name: Edin Dzeko Count: 1 18 Name: Emmanuel Emenike Count: 1 19 Name: Begovic Count: 1 20 Name: Herzegovina Count: 1 21 Name: Peter Odemwingie Count: 1 22 Name: Vincent Enyeama Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1p506G0 Title: Nigeria beats Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 at World Cup Description: By Steve Douglas http://ift.tt/1m1lLds Posted: 06/21/2014 06:52:45 PM MDT Updated: 06/21/2014 06:53:36 PM MDT CUIABA, Brazil - Nigeria eliminated Bosnia-Herzegovina from World Cup contention with a 1-0 win over the tournament newcomers on Saturday, with Peter Odemwingie's first-half goal getting the African champions closer to the knockout stage.
