Eagles, Etalons renew clash in Kaduna

Fresh from the soul-lifting progress into the final elimination round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification series, African champions, Nigeria, and African vice champions, Burkina Faso, clash in a high-profile international friendly at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Tuesday evening.
The Super Eagles did the expected by seeing off Malawi 2-0 in Calabar, Cross River State in one of the final matches of Africa’s group phase attrition on Saturday, meaning they reach the 10-team final battle easily, consigning the Flames to seven points and second place in the pool.
Only group winners are eligible for the draw in Cairo, Egypt on Monday next week.
Despite being docked points for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the campaign, the Etalons picked up efficiently, winning in Niger and Congo-Brazzaville before pipping Gabon 1-0 in Ouagadougou on Saturday to finish top of their pool.
Scenes of supreme glee took over the streets of Ouagadougou and other major Burkina Faso cities on Saturday after news filtered in that rivals, Congo, could only draw in Niamey, leaving the Etalons to emerge group winners.
On Sunday, the Super Eagles flew into Abuja and then connected Kaduna immediately.
They are expected to train at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Monday.
First half stoppage-time goal by Emmanuel Emenike, who connected an intelligent chip from Ogenyi Onazi, and a smartly-converted penalty by Victor Moses six minutes into the second period, took the wind off the sails of the Malawians and sent the full house at the U. J. Esuene Stadium into raptures.
Governor Liyel Imoke; the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye; Senator Adamu Gumba (Senate Committee on Sports chairman); Hon. Godfrey Gaiya (House Committee on Sports chairman); the NFF President, Aminu Maigari; the representative of Otunba Mike Adenuga Jnr of Globacom, Charles Genarius; and members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management watched from the State Box as the Super Eagles played a calm, confident and sure-footed game on a wet pitch.