Second placed Super Eagles went into this match with one eye on the Harambee Stars and the other on the simultaneous encounter between group leaders Tunisia (nicknamed Carthage Eagles) and Mozambique. The millions of desperate Nigerians watching the match knew that the team's destiny was not in their hands, and they needed a favour from Mozambique in order to book a spot in South Africa at Tunisia's expense.
Nigeria began the match brightly, with an early free kick falling to the visitors, but Osaze’s effort was blocked out for a corner. The Nigerians were visibly in control from the start, but the Kenyans fought back and the less than full house at the Kasarani Stadium willed their heroes forward.
In the 12th minute of the match Yakubu Ayegbeni missed a chance that he should have converted, after Osaze did well to get him the ball. On the opposite side of the pitch and against the run of play it was Kenya that bulged the back of the net with the opening goal in the 15th minute, piling more misery onto the dejected Super Eagles. Dennis Oliech had promised to score against the Super Eagles, and he did just that, with Everton's Joseph Yobo unable to clear the ball off the goal line as the Kenyan star sent the watching crowd into fits of happiness.
The Nigerians responded immediately, as Yobo, the captain, attempted to equalise but his effort was cleared off the line before the resolute Harambee Stars stopped another Nigerian attack minutes later. The visitors were throwing everything forward, and opening themselves up to be attacked on the counter, winning a number of corners but failing to convert attacking pressure into goals.
At this point in the match, the Tunisian game remained goalless, and the Nigerian coach must have been praying for a miracle. Oliech would have made it 2-0 for Kenya after he drove into the Nigerian defence but Enyeama saved from close range to deny him.
The pace of the game slowed towards the end of the first half, with a number of injuries for both national teams forcing a slower passing game to emerge from the ashes of the frantic early attacks, but Nigeria suddenly found themselves with one half left to play and in a very difficult position considering what they needed from both their match and that of Tunisia.
The second half began with more frustration for the Nigerians, as constant pressure in attack reaped little reward. In the 56th minute a Yobo header off Mikel’s corner was well saved by goalkeeper Willis Ochieng, as Nigeria pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Time was not on Nigeria’s side, but they finally found the breakthrough in the 62nd minute, shortly after a shot from the extremely busy Yobo banged against the cross bar. The man who brought them level was none other than former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins, with a typical effort from the talented front man to give the visitors hope.
The side would soon celebrate their second of the game as they took the lead through Yakubu Ayegbeni in the 67th minute. The sudden urgency displayed by the Nigerians allowed them to score the goals needed, and they knew that the result in the Tunisia match would be the deciding factor. The two goals in quick succession prompted fans to throw things onto the pitch, delaying the game momentarily.
Nigeria seemed destined to win the encounter, but Kenya threw a spanner into the works, as Allan Wanga equalised with a header in the 79th minute. The football gods were as playful (or cruel if you side with Tunisia of course) as can be, as a late winner for Mozambique gave them the win in the other match, which put the Super Eagles' fate in their own hands. Suddenly a hero emerged for Nigeria, giving them the goal that would send them to South Africa. In an incredible twist of fate, a second goal from Martins in the 83rd minute handed the Super Eagles a hard fought win in Nairobi.
The dramatic result lifted Nigeria to top the group, having leapfrogged Tunisia on the final day, thus qualifying for the World Cup finals while Tunisia miss out. The loss for Kenya means that they did not qualify for the African Cup of Nations in Angola, as Mozambique take that honour thanks to their win.
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