Super Eagles squeeze into Olympic finals

Super Eagles squeeze into Olympic finals
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

JOHANNESBURG, MARCH 26: Defending champions Nigeria, known as Super Eagles, outclassed Zimbabwe 4-0 in Lagos on Saturday to win Group A of the African qualifying competition and Sydney Olympics football tournament.

But it was a close shave for the west Africans as the goal that took them to the 16-nation tournament during September arrived two minutes into injury time from Ajax Amsterdam winger Pius Ikedia.

Nigeria completed their six-match programme with 12 points and a plus-five goal difference while Angola defeated Uganda 1-0 in Kampala to finish level on points, but only a plus-four goal difference.

Had the teams finished level on goal difference, Angola would have squeezed through because they scored more. However, all is not lost for the second-placed team.

They can still qualify as the best runners-up unless South Africa, who will be without striker Benni McCarthy and injured defender Fabian McCarthy, win a Group B clash in Guinea.

Nigeria shook off the absence of injured defender Celestine Babayaro and striker Julius Aghahowa to score twice just before half-time and hit a third in the final minute of normal time before Ikedia struck.

Defeat was a bitter pill for perennial underachievers Zimbabwe to swallow as they led for five rounds only to end third behind Nigeria and Angola on goal difference.

The battle to decide who join Nigeria in Australia will be settled late on Sunday with Cameroon needing a victory in Ghana to be certain of finishing first in Group B.

Morocco look well placed in Group C as they are two points ahead of Ivory Coast and will enjoy home advantage while Egypt must triumph in Tunisia to have any hope of snatching top spot.

Qualifying matches are restricted to players born on or after January 1 1977, but three over-age players can appear at the finals scheduled for Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.