Draw stuns Nigeria giants By ELIAS MAKORI
A super-header from Stars' player Kennedy Simiyu leaves Super Eagles goal-keeper Joseph Dosu grasping a handful of air as teammate Celestine Babayaro helplessly watches the ball streak into the net for the first goal, which sent the capacity crowd wild. cf1(Pictures by SAM OUMA)
An ecstatic crowd of about 75,000, including President Moi, yesterday watched Kenya's soccer ``Dream Team'' tame Olympic champions Super Eagles of Nigeria, holding them to a 1-1 draw in a World Cup qualifier at the Moi International Sports Centre.
Most soccer analysts had predicted a hammering for the home boys. Local bookmakers gave the youthful squad no chance against the team to beat in world soccer today.
The crowd started heading to the Thika Road stadium as early as 8am and by the time the presidential party came in at 3.30 pm, the 60,000-seater stadium was packed to capacity.
Police had a hectic time trying to control the crowd as kick-off time approached. Harambee Stars German Coach Reinhardt Fabisch, the man who guided Kenya to the finals of the 1987 All-Africa Games against Egypt at the same venue, was mobbed by jubilant fans while man-of-the-match John Odhiambo was carried shoulder high into the changing rooms.
Such big names of world soccer as Dan Amokachi, Augustine Okocha and Finidi George seemed not to bother the home team, who shocked everybody by scoring first in the 20th minute through Ken Simiyu.
The goal electrified a home crowd that had been kept busy by various musical groups before the match.
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There was a carnival like atmosphere all over Nairobi because the Super Eagles had come to town; good thing the Harambee Stars did not disappoint their home fans, and the carnival continued long after the game was over. Whilst the Super Eagles were shadows of themselves, the Stars shone and very brightly too, and only their lack of belief in themselves cost them the chance of winning this match. |
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Right from the blast of the referee's whistle to flag off the match, the Kenyans were more enterprising and it was no surprise when they took the lead just after 25 minutes. Ken Simiyu rifling in a shot from just outside the 30 yard box, after a poorly cleared ball fell to him. Even the Kenyans did not believe they could score, let alone take the lead against the Eagles, and this stage fright stopped them from going forward more agressively. And till the end of the half, most of the play was in the midfield where the Kenyan John Odhiambo effectively checked Augustine Okocha.
The Eagles equalized just after the re-start from the only way it seemed they could score - a set piece. It was in the 48th minute; a Finidi corner kick from the right and Uche and Akpoborie went up for it, and Akpoborie was later credited with the goal.
From then on the game just dragged, the Kenyans content with battling the Eagles to a draw, and the Eagles, bereft of ideas, just content with watching the game petter out.
This was a dreadful performance by the Eagles and it was to be Shuaibu Amodu's last match in charge, but for the Harambee Stars - I doubt if the jubilation could have been more even if they won the World Cup itself.
