Nigeria have taken the lead, even though if momentarily, in the Group B of the Confederation Cup after an expected mauling of Tahiti.
The final score line of 6-1 may not have truly reflected the one-sidedness of the encounter as the boys of Stephen Keshi still showed signs of poor marksmanship in front of goal.
It was boo all the way for the Nigerian side even as they pumped in the six goals against the hapless Tahiti team comprised of amateurs.
No thanks to their pre-tournament behaviour that has earned them more enemies than friends.
They will now know that they have earned more enemies around the world than admirers.
When Tahiti scored their solitary goal in the 54th minute through Jonathan Tehau, it was greeted with resounding cheers as it was the winning goal of a final match.
There and then, the Super Eagles became disoriented as the confidence of the islanders from Tahiti began to soar.
It was perhaps an indication that the team may not be able to withstand pressure from stronger teams like Uruguay and Spain.
The Tahiti side kicked off and immediately lost control to the more experienced Nigerian side.
The control was so absolute that it was just a matter of time for the opening goal to come.
The wait did not last long.
Elderson Uwa Echiejile took the ball from a double rebound from the referee, Joel Aguilar, and a Tahiti defender to put Nigeria ahead as he had done in the African Nations Cup semi-final against Mali.
Echiejile was later on target for goal number six.
It is the third time he found the net for Nigeria.
But the hero in the Nigerian side may just be the hat trick hero, Nnamdi Oduamadi, who is now the tournament’s top scorer.
Perhaps the best of his three goals was the first when he waltzed past four defenders before finding the net.
He had collected the ball in the middle of the pack after a misplaced Tahitian pass.
He dribbled past and calmly slot the ball past goalkeeper Xavier Samin.
Thereafter the game was reduced to a practice session.
It took a surprise pulling back of a goal before the game regained tempo.
It was in the 54th minute.
A long corner from the sole professional in Tahiti, Marama Vahirua, found its way to the back post and Jonathan Tehau scored a truly significant goal in Tahiti’s footballing history.
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