On the 10th day of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, play was brought to conclusion with a battle for survival in Group F as reigning African Champions Nigeria squared off against first-time World Cup competitors Bosnia & Herzegovina at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba.
For Bosnia & Herzegovina it was to be a 2nd match in a row where questionable calls and self-errors would lead to their demise. Quite unjustly for the World Cup newcomers it would be a cruel twist of fate, with the harsh realities of their first competitive tournament taking their toll on a talented but inexperienced side.
Chelsea FC and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel would be joined alongside on-loan Chelsea man Kenneth Omeruo (at Middlesbrough) as both would feature the entire 90 minutes for the Super Eagles. Omeruo put in a defensive shift worthy of mentioning as he quelled the constant pressure applied from the Bosnian attack.
Early on it looked to be a near early disaster for Bosnia & Herzegovina when a pass given away in midfield in the 7th minute was taken straight at the defense by CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa where he was upended by a chasing Haris Medunjanin. The Gaziantepspor midfielder, playing out of position in the Bosnian defense, made a last ditch effort to stop the run on goal and luckily with trailing defenders covering behind him escaped with only a yellow card.
The ensuing free kick would be taken by Stoke City FC forward Peter Odemwingie who would watch his effort swerve just wide of the right post.
In the 9th minute Nigeria would continue the pressure on Bosnia’s back line when a ball played over the top found a wide open Musa, unluckily for the Super Eagles the ball skipped inches behind his feet and the chance went begging.
Mikel would make his presence felt on both ends of the pitch in the 10th minute when he would clear out a Bosnian free kick that was whipped into the middle of the box. Then following it up in the attacking 3rd in the 11th minute when he received a pass on the left side edge of the box before hitting his effort about a foot wide of the left post.
Bosnia & Herzegovina would learn that beginners luck does not always apply in the 21st minute when a fantastic move by the Bosnian attack completely opened up the Nigerian defense. The ball would make its way in to Manchester City striker Eden Dzeko inside the box after a pass played in off of a beautifully worked side-footed pass from AS Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic to Zvjezdan Misimovic in the middle of the pitch. Dzeko would receive the pass from Misimovic and slice open the defense before cooly slotting home with his right foot past a charging Vincent Enyeama. Bosnia certainly looked to be up 1-0 and on their way to a first ever World Cup victory.
As Dzeko and Bosnia began to celebrate, the linesman’s flag went up and with it Bosnia’s chances of advancing. The replays showed from all angles that Dzeko was clearly onside at the time the ball was played in, driving an unjust dagger in the hearts of the newcomers and erasing their chances to go up 1-0.
8 minutes later Nigeria would cement the devastation for the Bosnians when Fenerbahce SK forward Emmanuel Emenike would come out on the right side of a 50/50 challenge with Bayer Leverkusen defender Emir Spahic on the right wing. The Nigerian winger would leave the Bosnian captain in a heap behind him and as he raced past him into the box and played a low cross in towards a hustling Odemwingie who would slot home for the Super Eagles and put them in 2nd position in Group F.
There would be several chances and half chances for both teams throughout the rest of the game, most notably near the death in the 93rd when a desperation attempt into the box was chested down by Dzeko towards the left side of goal. His turn would open up space to shoot and his scuffed attempt would bounce up at a diving Enyeama. Enyeama would just about get a enough on it with an outstretched hand, sending the ball careening up into the left upright and out to secure the victory for the African champions.
Bosnian pain was Nigerian gain as the injustice done on the tournament newcomers was to the benefit of the African Champions in erasing a poor World Cup streak. The victory for the Super Eagles was their first in World Cup play since 1998.
Chelsea fans should be very intrigued at the prospects of this Nigerian side facing off against Argentina in the next and final round of group games for Group F. Mikel has had a quiet but solid two games for Nigeria, but after Omeruo’s impressive shift in quelling most of Dzeko and Bosnia’s attempts all eyes will be on the young on-loan defender and how he performs against Lionel Messi and co. (Because we all know that to make it at Chelsea as a defender, you must be willing and able to sacrifice yourself 100% so that the so-called world’s greatest player will never score a goal against our beloved CFC)
