Africa Cup of Nations: Nigeria v Mozambique – as it happened

Preamble: So then, anyone out there not agree that Egypt are the best team we've seen in the tournament so far? Ivory Coast have intermittently harnessed their undoubted offensive power, Angola's front pair are nifty too, Gabon have been as well-drilled as we've come to expect under Alain Giresse, while by recovering from the brink of humiliation Cameroon have shown they retain their famed resilience, but no side has looked as consistently fluid and cutting as Hassan Shehata's crew – and that despite injuries to key players. All of which begs several questions, such as: isn't it a shame they're not going to be at the World Cup? Wouldn't it be intriguing to see how Shehata – on course to equal CK Gyamfi's Nations Cup record of three victories – would fare as coach of, for example, a Premier League club? And do Benin have any chance of winning today? The answer to the last question is probably no, of course: not only because Egypt have only a rested a few players, and in previous competitions have proved fearsome oponents even when already qualified, but also because Benin are deprived of their best palyer, artful PSG schemer Stephane Sessegnon, though at least his absence is enforced this time (he's suspended) unlike two years ago, when the German manager who took over the Squirrels just before the tournament inexplicably omitted him from the starting line-up in their most important game. And another question: isn't the identity of today's referee an agreeable surprise? I've long wondered what he's been up to since the demise of Take Hart ... Egypt: 1-Essam El Hadari; 2-Mahmoud Fathallah, 3-Ahmed Al Muhammadi, 19-Mohamed Abdelshafi, 4-Moatasem Salem, 5-Abdelzaher Al Saqqa; 8-Hosni Abd Rabou, 17-Ahmed Hassan, 12-Hossam Ghali, 21-Ahmed Raouf; 10-Emad Motaeb. Benin: 1-Yoann Djidonou; 3-Khaled Adenon, 7-Romuald Boco, 5-Damien Chrysostome, 12-Felicien Singbo; 13-Pascal Angan, 18-Seidath Tchomogo, 4-Djiman Koukou, 20-Arnaud Seka, 11-Mouri Ogonbiyi; 8-Razak Omotoyossi. Referee: Mr Bennett 3:58pm: I'm getting a little anxious: with only moments till kick-off, there is no sign of an end to the car race that Eurosport are currently showing ... 4pm: Ah, that was pleasantly abrupt: with not so much as a pointless montage to a soft rock soundtrack, Eurosport have veered from the Monte Carlo rally to Benguela, just in time to show the pretty woman that the camerman have picked out amid the sparse crowd - all over the world, it seems, the blokes who cover football have similar briefs. By which I mean 'assignments', of course - I've no idea what manner of underwear the Angolan cameraman is wearing, and rather hope he doesn't deign to reveal it ... 1 min: Ah, there I was lavishing praise on the camerafolks (whom I rather unforgivaly assumed were male) when it turns out they are not even pointing at the match we were expecting: contrary to their advertised schedule, Eurosport have decided to show us Nigeria v Mozambique ... 2 mins: Egypt are already a goal up against Benin thanks to El Mohamady, which means (a) victory here will put Mozambique through (b) my preamble is still sort of relevant. 5 mins: Mozambique venture towards the Nigerian box for the first time, only for Shittu to unceremoniously boot the ball back up the other end. 8 mins: Obasi profits from slack defending before cutting into the box and unleashing a swirling shot from a 16 yards that the keeper pushes away. It wasn't a particularly tough save - the shooter's angle was quite tight - but in a tournament in which the standard of keeping has been of the abyss (even by the usually accomplised Carlos Kameni, though not in fairness, by Didier Ovono) it deserves a mention. "In response to your question," begins Tom Maxted. "no, it is not a pity that Egypt are not at the World Cup. Otherwise England would have to face them." On the bright side, a Pharoahs' victory there might have increased Shehata's chances of being headhunted by a Premier League club. 9 mins: See that change of photo? Performed with Okocha-esque skill. You can thank Gregg Roughley for that. It might be the last piece of Okocha-esque skill we see thius afternoon, alas, because the Super Eagles, for all their crispness and solidity in midfield, continue to lack creativity. 13 mins: Mozambique attempt to familiarise themselves with the ball via some gentle passing in their own half, but once they cross half-way, Nigeria win it back. "Given your comment about the referee, it's ironic that the match has morphed into Mozambique v Nigeria," chuckles Chris Brock, who's clearly playing to the gallery. 16 mins: Here, at last, are the line-ups: Nigeria: Enyeama, Shittu, Obasi Ogbuke, Yakubu, Mikel, Odemwingie, Kaita, Mohammed, Etuhu, Echiejile, Apam. Subs: Ejide, Aiyenugbu, Yobo, Kanu, Nwaneri, Martins, Yussuf, Olofinjana, Obinna, Odiah, Uche, Taiwo. Mozambique: Kampango; Campira Samuel, Khan, Fanuel, Paito; Simao, Elias Pelembe, Miro Lobo, Genito; Dario. Subs: Cossa, Lama, Hagy, Goncalves, Helder Pelembe, Parruque, Francisco Massinga, Vaz, Zinedine, Josemar, Sitoe. 18 mins: A sudden shift of pace and Mozambique thrust through the Nigerian midfield and find themselves in a promising position. Tico Tico laid the ball off to Paito, who had torn up from the back ... in time to spank the ball over the bar from 24 metres. Or thereabouts. 19 mins: That last break by Mozambique underlined the sluggishness of the Super Eagles. They have been ponderous and predictable in possession, so much so that their opponents appear lifted and now seem convinced their suprioer dynamism could be enough to give them the upperhand ... 21 mins: About a dozen dozen of you have pointed out that the Egypt-Benin match is on Eurosport 2, which, I guess, means it's about time I admitted I do not have access to Eurosport 2. Over there, it seems, Egypt are now 2-0 to the good. Here, meanwhile, Obasi has just perpetrated the miss of the tournament! After a freekick was nodded back across the goal by Shittu, Obasi headed into the supine keeper's arm from one yard! Unbelievable! "it was too easy," suggests Efan Ekoku from the gantry. 24 mins: Yakubu waddles after an intended through-ball, but Pelembe beats him to it and wallops the ball out for a throw-in. 26 mins: Odemwingie receives the ball some 15 yards out, swivels sharply and lets fire with a fine low shot. Kampango gets down well to thwart everyone's favourite Uzbekistan-born Nigerian international. 28 mins: Freekick to the Black Mambas. From 25 yards Lobo finds the target, but Enyeama deals with it comfortably. 30 mins: When Tico Tico wound up a shot from 35 yards, ridicule seemed the most likely outcome ... but in fact the 36-year-old hit a splendid effort, despite being off-balance, and forced a good save from Enyeama. 33 mins: Paito races down the left, looks up, and then sends a superb effort goalward from a good 25 yards out. Enyeama parries it again. 35 mins: Dominguez booked for felling Mikel - it actually wasn't him but Simao who committed the foul, which suggests the referee has made a mistake of identity -I can't mock him for that, however, because it is becoming apparent to me that the team sheet I have published bears little relation to the actual line-ups, at least not when it comes to Mozambique. This was one from our official suppliers, but it contains a couple of inaccuracies. I've changed it now though. 37 mins: Awful defending presents Yakubu with a one-on-one chance, but in keeping with the sluggishness of the Nigerian team, the Everton striker hesitates long enough for Pelembe to get back and dispossess him. It is only cleared as far as Odemwingie, however, and then his blocked shot rebounds to Obasi, who sends a rasper fractionally wide from the edge of the box. 39 mins: Bila booked for backchat or some such. 40 mins: Yet another fine long shot from the Black Mambas - this time Enyeama tips Miro's shot behind via the post. The keeper roars at his defenders for their repeated refusal to deny space for such shots, but is becalmed by the ensuing corner, which is feeble. 42 mins: Paito is having a terriffic game, continually bombing forward from left-back. This time he elected to cross rather than shoot, but it was fratctionally too high for Dario. GOAL! Nigeria 1-0 Mozambique (Odemwingie 44') After all the decent efforts from distance by the Black Mambas, it's a Super Eagles show produces the best one: Odemwingie picked the ball up some 22 metres out and then sent a low left-footer past Rafael, who beaten by the power and swirl. Half-time: Nigeria are on course for the knock-out stages, though have certainly not shown enough to suggest they will beat whoever they meet there (most likely either Cameroon or Gabon). Indeed, a Mozambique comeback here is by no means out of the question, as they were the more vibrant team for much of that first period. Still half-time: The Nigeria players have taken to the pitch early, and are currently engrossed in a manly huddle in the centre-circle. Enyeama, for some reason, has changed jersey, switching from a bright yellow number into an all black one. 46 mins: Nigeria resume the game, and if the first few seodns of this half are anything to go by they will play with greater zip than in the first period. GOAL! Nigeria 2-0 Mozambique (Odemwingie 47') That surely ensures Nigeria's presence in the next round. Mozambique's offside trap was embarassingly wonky, allowing Yakubu to skip free down the left and slide the ball across the face of goal to Odemwingie, who dutifully slotted it into the net. Too easy. 49 mins: Mozambique seem crestfallen since the second goal, and Pelembe seemed to have serious difficulty mustering the enthusiasm to chase after an aimless punt forward from Yusuf. Eventually he did decide to stretch out a leg and divert it to safety, a nanosecond before Yakubu collected it. The Nigerian would have been through on goal otherwise. 51 mins: Samuel smashes a freekick over the bar from 23.35 metres. "I have a Master's Degree in Philosophy and a big bucket full of motivation, but very little cash and zero job satisfaction," whinges Scott W. "I am, you might say, at a low ebb. But with the darkest hour coming before the dawn, I was hoping that you could ask your readers - the nice ones, not the smart-alecky ones - to suggest things to do with myself. I would oh so love to make a difference. Or, at least, to enjoy myself." Who amongst ye has the wherewithal to give meaning to this philosophy graduate's life? 54 mins: A snappy interchange of passes culminates with Mikel threading a perceptive ball through to Odemwingie ... but the linesman nullifies it all by wrongly raising his flag for offside. 56 mins: With the prospects of Mozambique storming back to win their first match in this tournament receidign faster than Prince William's hairline, Nigeria are entertaining themselves by knocking the ball around leisurely at mid-way. 58 mins: Miro clatters into Kaita well late, and is deservedly booked. Meanwhile, no enlightenment for Scott W is forthcoming from our seemingly equally nonplussed readers. 60 mins: During a break in play the camera cuts to the erstwhile buccaneering Paito, who's now gazing forlornly at the ground, as if he believes all hope is lost. Either he's convinced the Black Mambas' deficit is insurmountable, or he's deliberately impersonating our friend, Scott W. 63 mins: It's all gone a bit scrappy. Nigeria aren't particuarly bothered about seeking another goal, and Mozambique's belief has died. The game seems to be petering out. "Tell Scott W to go back to uni and get a proper degree!" bellows a sympathetic correspondent, who's named Kirsty and proudly adds that she is a highly-valued bachelor of arts. 65 mins: On the sideline Obafemi Martins has his hand down the front of his shorts, suggesting he's either preparing to enter the fray, or he has an idea of how Scott W might make better use of his time. 66 mins: Nigeria change: Martins comes on for Yakubu. Mozambique change: Josemar is introduced for Bila. 69 mins: That match perks up! Top-class football all round - Dominguez controlled the ball wonderfully on the right, then spun and crossed to Dario, who's strong header was acrobatically turned away by Enyeama. And with that, the standard of counsel for Scott W is also raised, slightly. "As one philosophy graduate to another, my advice is this," intones Andew T. "Retrain in seriously weird physics, invent a time machine, go back in time, talk your younger self out of philosophy and into seriously weird physics, then your younger self will invent the time machine sooner and so be able to spend all the time you've wasted in this philosophical low ebb travelling through time and impressing historical ladies with your predictive acumen. And visit the races a lot." 71 mins: Another Nigeria change: Etuhu off, Ayila on. 74 mins: A dainty dummy by Odemwingie was the highlight of that little bout of possession play from Nigeria, and they were not terribly bothered when they eventually lost the ball deep in Mozambican territory. 76 mins: Paito lofts another centre towards the, well, centre. But Shittu clears. "I have two words for Scott W: civil service," wibbles Peter Wahlberg. "As both a philosophy graduate and government drone I can personally attest that he can take that big bucket of motivation and become one of the 10% who actually earn their money. Otherwise, might I suggest a move to Mozambique?" Presumably you did not write that email while earning your money, Peter? 79 mins: Much half-hearted faffing. "At the risk of being 'one of the smart-aleky' respondents, I would suggest that in terms of looking for somewhere to make a difference and achieve something in life, Scott W asking those who spend their working hours following a text version of Nigeria v Mozambique may not quite be the best people to ask," lectures Michael Hunt, who is presumably well aware of the fact that his name can be abbreivated to somethign bart Simpson might use when calling Moe's Tavern. 81 mins: Martins scurries after a long ball and Rafael hurtles off his line to collect. He pounces on it but then careers out of the box with the ball still in his hands! That's a yellow card for him, and a freekick in a dangerous location for Nigeria. Mikel rolls it to Odemwingie, who curls it over the bar. 83 mins: Mozambique substitution: Danito on, Dario off. Nigeria decide to make a change too, bringing off Odemwingie and throwing on Nsofor, he of the above photo. "The Black Mambas are not Mambas anymore merely minhocas , which means earthworms rather than big chuffing Mambas!" So can I say that the early birds, in the form of Super Eagles, have eaten the worms? GOAL! Nigeria 3-0 Mozambique (Martins 86') Paito, impressive going forward but apparently not so clever defensively, was robbed by Mikel at the edge of the area. The Chelsea player\s shot was beaten away by Rafael, but the keeper was helpless to prevent Martins slamming in the rebound. "I didn't write it while earning enough money, no," protests Peter Wahlberg quite a lot. "Though continuing education is always encouraged, so in a sense I'm working, as I'm now the only American who knows what 'wibble' means." 89 mins: Nigeria stroke the ball around, Mozambique scuff ineffectively in their wake. Only Rafael prevents further embarassment, thwarting Nsofor with a solid block after Martins had put his striker partner through with a neat pass. 90 mins: Any chance of a consolation goal for Mozambique evaporates when, with team-mates awaiting a cross, Samuel blazes into the sidenetting from an absurd angle. Full-time: Nigeria are through to the last eight. Fleetingly they showed the quality that could make them a threat in this tournament - Odemwingie was especially bright - but for much of the game they were ponderous and if Mozambique had possessed a little more quality around the box it could have been a very different result. The Super Eagles and Egypt, 2-0 conquerors of Benin, will learn their quarter-final opponents tomorrow, and you will be msot welcome if you decide to follow that right here. Bye.