CHAN 2014: Eagles, Zimbabwe end first half goalless

Oluwasegun Noah, South Africa

First half of the the third place match of the ongoing Africa Nations Championship between the Super Eagles and Zimbabwe ended scoreless as the two sides could not score.
But the Nigerian side enjoyed 64 per cent ball possession while the Zimbabweans had 36 per cent.
The highlight of the half was a deserving red card shown to Zimbabwe’s player, Masimba Mambare, in the 17th minute for a dangerous neck kick on Eagles Captain Agbim while top striker for the side, Simba Sithole, was also cautioned in the added time of the first half for simulation (diving) in Eagles box.
All efforts by Ibrahim, Pyagbara and Obiozor to break the defence network of the Zimbabweans proved abortive as the Zimbabwe’s dreadlocked defensive midfielder, Peter Moyo, combined well with the other defenders in his team to thwart all the attacking forays of in the first half of the game.
The unimpressive crowd at the Cape Town Stadium were in full support of the Zimbabwe’s team for the mere reason that it was Nigeria that eliminated the Bafana Bafana from the group stage of the competition while Zimbabwe is also a neighbouring country to host nation, South Africa.
Referee Victor Miguel de Freitas Gomes from South Africa has signalled the resumption of the second half.