Nigeria eliminated Bosnia and Herzegovina from the World Cup with a 1-0 win in Cuiabá on Saturday.
A first-half goal from Peter Osaze Odemwingie was enough for the Super Eagles to take victory and end the Dragons’ hopes of making the knockout stages.
The victorious Super Eagles shaded the opening exchanges of the match, with Odemwingie curling a free-kick narrowly wide of Asmir Begović’s post, before Ahmed Musa mis-controlled in the penalty area and the Bosnian keeper was called into action on a long-range drive by Ogenyi Onazi.
However, though Bosnia looked quiet early on, they should have had the lead in the 21st minute when Edin Džeko slotted a Miralem Pjanić shot beyond Vincent Enyeama, only to see the the offside flag wrongly raised.
The momentum of the game seemed to be gradually shifting in Bosnia’s favour, with Haris Medunjanin sending Džeko through on goal again within minutes, only for Enyeama to palm the striker’s shot away.
But Nigeria still stayed dangerous on the counter-attack, and they took full advantage by opening the scoring just short of the half-hour.
Emmanuel Emenike outmuscled Bosnia defender, Emir Spahić, down the right, before drilling the ball across the box for Odemwingie to hit beyond Begović.
It was one they managed to hold till halftime, with Džeko squandering a couple of half-chances before the break.
Bosnia’s best chances came from crosses into the box, with substitute Ibisevic flashing a header wide and Dzeko nodding right at Enyeama in stoppage time.
Another great chance fell to Dzeko in the final minute, though his effort on the turn somehow clipped the post.
The Super Eagles survived the Dragons’ late rally to move ever closer to the knockout stages.
Bosnia, meanwhile, will progress no further than the knockout stages in their first World Cup.
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