Odemwingie double sends Nigeria into last eight

A brace from Peter Odemwingie scored either side of half-time proved the key for Nigeria as they sealed a place in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup with a win over Mozambique.

The Lokomotiv Moscow forward scored in the 45th and 48th minutes, before substitute Obafemi Martins sealed victory with a late strike to hand under-fire Shaibu Amodu a welcome boost.

The Super Eagles boss, whose side lost to Egypt in the opening game before edging past Benin, needed a win to secure their place in the next round, but things were not all smooth sailing early on.

They created the first scare for their opponents after just three minutes when Odemwingie and John Obi Mikel exchanged quick passes, but there was no one in the penalty are to pounce on a square ball from the Chelsea midfielder.

Minutes later sloppy play between Campira and Dario Khan saw an attempted clearance by the latter fall straight into the path of Chinedu Obasi, whose 12-yard shot from the left was parried away by Kapango.

Despite dominating possession and displaying some slick passing, the Mambas failed to create many openings in the first 20 minutes with their best chances coming from distance - Paito first failing to trouble Vincent Enyeama with a wayward effort, before Genito’s shot was straight at the Nigerian goalkeeper.

At the other end, Obasi missed a gilt-edged header from two-yards out when Danny Shittu nodded a free-kick into the path of the Hoffenheim striker.

The Super Eagles kept up the pressure as the teams approached the half-hour mark - Odemwingie the latest to come close when his strike from the right was turned around the post low down for a corner by Kapango.

Paito tried to respond with the best effort of the game for the southern Africans, which was struck handsomely from 35-yards out on the left, but parried away by Enyeama.

Four minutes before half-time, Miro came closest to breaking the deadlock with a low strike from just outside the area that came off the right upright.

And just as it seemed the two sides would be level at the break, Odemwingie’s quick thinking caught out Kapango with a rifling shot from just outside the penalty area that snuck in just beyond the goalkeeper’s right in the 45th minute.

It was 1-0 at the break and the advantage was doubled in the third minute after the restart when a sweeping break saw Obasi play Yakubu in on the left and his cross enabled Odemwingie to finish from close range.

Mart Nooij’s team pressed forward desperately to try and pull a goal back, but battled to find many clear-cut openings.

Dario had one of their better chances when he climbed high to meet a right-side cross from Domingues, but Enyeama was alert with a diving save to his right.

Martins wrapped up the victory four minutes from the end when another error saw the Mozambican defence again dispossessed and, when Mikel’s shot was saved, the Wolfsburg striker was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Victor Obinna should have made it 4-0, but missed an easy one-on-one chance at the death as the Super Eagles eased into the next round alongside Group C winners Egypt. — ESPN