NIGERIA/KENYA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Africa champions Nigeria beat Kenya with minutes to spare to increase World Cup qualification chances

Record ID: 236101

  • Title: NIGERIA/KENYA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Africa champions Nigeria beat Kenya with minutes to spare to increase World Cup qualification chances
  • Date: 5th June 2013
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (JUNE 5, 2013) (REUTERS) WIDE OF STREET IN LAGOS BOARD READING: "NIGERIA VS KENYA 2PM" TAFAWA BALEWA SQUARE BUILDING/VARIOUS OF BUSY STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROBINSON OKWUDIBIA, PASTOR, SAYING: "Very very much fascinated, very exciting, we are happy because Kenya has been posing threats to us. You know they came to Calabar the other day and then played us 1-1 so they have that confidence that when we return to Nairobi, they will you know defeat Nigeria. But unfortunately for them, and fortunately for us, we carried the day, we won them 1-0 so we give God glory." PEOPLE WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ODESANMI OLAYINKA, LAGOS RESIDENT, SAYING: "From history, we normally used to defeat and I believe it and God made it to be possible that we defeated them 1-0, in fact, we are really happy." STREET IN LAGOS NAIROBI, KENYA (JUNE 5, 2013) (REUTERS) WIDE OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE MATCH CLOSE OF MAN WATCHING FANS REACTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNKNOWN KENYA SUPPORTER SAYING: "I really feel very bad because as a country we need to work on getting more strikers, because what has caused this is lack of good strikers, that's why they are taking advantage and scoring against us. I feel very bad, but this is the rule of the game - next time, I know next time something good will come up." WIDE OF PEOPLE WATCHING FANS WATCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNKNOWN KENYA SUPPORTER SAYING: "I am really sad about the game, yes, I am really sad. I really hoped for the best for Kenya to beat the African champions, it could be really proud for our country." CLOSE OF FANS WATCHING WIDE OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE END OF THE MATCH
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADVLLW8FSKLFGI22WSY67U7GV7
  • Story Text: Nigerians in Lagos are delighted about their teams 1-0 win over Kenya in a World Cup qualifier played in Nairobi on Wednesday (June 5).
    Robinson Okwudibia, a pastor based in Lagos, said he was excited with the win which enhances African Cup of Nations champions Nigeria's chances of qualifying for next year's tournament in Brazil.
    "Very very much fascinated, very exciting, we are happy because Kenya has been posing threats to us. You know they came to Calabar the other day and then played us 1-1 so they have that confidence that when we return to Nairobi, they will you know defeat Nigeria. But unfortunately for them, and fortunately for us, we carried the day, we won them 1-0 so we give God glory," he said.
    Another Lagos resident Odesanmi Olayinka said he was not surprised at the victory.
    "From history, we normally used to defeat and I believe it and God made it to be possible that we defeated them 1-0, in fact, we are really happy," Olayinka said.
    Ahmed Musa's goal nine minutes from time gives the Super Eagles a two-point lead at the top of Group F as closest rivals Malawi were held to a goalless draw by Namibia at home in Blantyre.
    Kenyan's who had been hoping that their team would build on the performance in March's match in Nigeria, which finished in a tie, were devastated.
    "I really feel very bad because as a country we need to work on getting more strikers, because what has caused this is lack of good strikers, that's why they are taking advantage and scoring against us. I feel very bad, but this is the rule of the game - next time, I know next time something good will come up," said one fan.
    "I am really sad about the game, yes, I am really sad. I really hoped for the best for Kenya to beat the African champions, it could be really proud for our country," said another.
    Nigeria, who are heading to the Confederations Cup in Brazil later this month, moved on to eight points with two games to play as Malawi failed to keep pace.
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