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Attendance: 40,499
Nigeria national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 21, 2014 at 11pm UK
 
Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team

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Live Commentary: Nigeria 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text commentary of the World Cup Group F match between Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba.
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Nigeria have claimed a 1-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in their World Cup Group F match in Cuiaba.

Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko had a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside, before Peter Odemwingie gave Nigeria the lead.

Dzeko had two late chances to level for Bosnia, but he could not find the net as his side were knocked out of the tournament.

Find out how the action unfolded below.


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Good evening everyone! It has been another wonderful day of football in the World Cup with Lionel Messi's wonder strike and Miroslav Klose's record goal for Germany, but now it is the time of Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina to take centre stage, as they go head to head in Cuiaba.

A quick look at the Group F table shows Argentina leading the way following their late, late win over Iran. The South Americans have six points and their place in the last 16 is confirmed, although a draw today will see them through as group winners. It is now a straight shoot-out between the three other sides, with victory for either team tonight vital. For Bosnia-Herzegovina though, a defeat this evening would definitely knock them out of the tournament.

NIGERIA STARTING XI: Enyeama, Yobo, Ambrose, Musa, Emenike, Mikel, Oshaniwa, Onazi, Babatunde, Omeruo, Odemwingie

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA STARTING XI: Begovic, Spahic, Besic, Misimovic, Mujdza, Sunjic, Lulic, Medunjanin, Hajrovic, Pjanic, Dzeko

Nigeria have made three changes to the side that were held to a goalless draw against Iran in their opening mtach. Michael Babatunde, Peter Odemwingie and Joseph Yobo are the players that come into the starting XI, with Godfrey Oboabona, Ramon Azeez and Victor Moses all dropping out.

Meanwhile, Bosnia manager Safet Susic has made two changes to his team. Haris Medunjanin and Toni Sunjic both come into the back four and replace Sead Kolasinac and Ermin Bicakcic. There is plenty of quality in the side with Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic and Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko offering their main attacking threat. Vedad Ibisevic, who came on and scored against Argentina, starts on the bench again.

There aren't too many alterations by the managers this evening, which would suggest to me that they weren't too unsatisfied by their first group games. Indeed, Bosnia won plenty of fans for their performance against Argentina in what was their first ever World Cup match, but they were undone by Messi's class.

Stephen Keshi was concerned about his teams lack of attacking prowess against the Iranians and he has picked Peter Odemwingie to lead the forward line this evening. The Stoke City man has had his fair share of problems with the national side, but on his day he is a handful for any defence.

Much is also expected of Bosnia's big name striker Edin Dzeko, whose 35 goals makes him the country's all time leading goalscorer. He may not always be a regular at Manchester City, but a haul of 26 goals for the club last season shows just how dangerous he can be. Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo and his defence will have to be on their guard this evening.

Looking at each team's midfield and Nigeria seem to lack a playmaker that is capable of splitting open a defence. Mikel and Onazi are perfectly good players, but they lack that creative ability in the final third to prove decisive.

That is not the case with Bosnia, who can boast one of the best attacking midfielders in world football at the moment. I am talking about Miralem Pjanic, who was in great form for Roma last season. He made 27 appearances for the club in Serie A during the previous campaign and scored three goals, as well as providing six assists.

Pjanic will take all of his country's set pieces this evening, and he is more than capable of finding the net with a spectacular free kick. His goalscoring record at international level is good too, with eight goals in 48 appearances.

White Bosnia are appearing in their first ever World Cup, this is the fifth time that Nigeria have qualified for the finals. The furthest that they have reached is the last 16, which they achieved in 1994 and 1998.

Four years ago in South Africa it was a tournament to forget for the Super Eagles. They were paired with Argentina, South Korea and Greece, but failed to make it out of their group. In fact, Nigeria have not won in their past nine World Cup games, with their last victory coming against Bulgaria in the group stages of France '98.

Another stat that is a cause for concern for Nigeria fans, is that they scored the fewest goals in qualifying for the tournament. They were only able to find the back of the net 11 times on their way to Brazil, which is in stark contract to their opponents this evening, who scored 30 goals as they topped their qualifying group. Their ability to find the net proved crucial as they only pipped Greece to top spot by virtue of their superior goal difference.

Goals have been flowing in this World Cup so far, but Group F has yet to really spark into life. Only four goals have been scored in the first three matches, with Argentina bagging three of those. It did seem that today's earlier match between Argentina and Iran was going to finish goalless, before Messi showed his undoubted class with a sensational injury-time winner.

Let's take a look at the stadium that will be hosting the match today, the Arena Pantanal. It has just been completed this year in time for the tournament and will be the new home of local side Cuiaba. This is the third match of the group stages that will be played here following Chile's 3-1 win over Australia and Russia's 1-1 draw with South Korea.

PREDICTION: With so much at stake this evening, it is vital that both teams get off to a good start, as one goal could be enough to claim all three points. Bosnia showed their class against Argentina and were unlucky not to pick up a draw, whereas Nigeria lacked ideas to trouble Iran. I feel that Bosnia have slightly more power in their attack to get the win today, with a 2-0 scoreline to Safet Susic's team how I see the match ending.

We're not too far away from kick off now, with both teams starting to make their way out of the tunnel.

The anthems have been played to a rapturous applause from the crowd, and following the completion of the final pre-match formalities we will be kicking off.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Arena Pantanal!

It's been a positive start for Bosnia, who look to make the early running in this match. They do well to work the ball wide to Mujdza on the right, and he gets to the byline before trying to pick out Dzeko in the middle. His ball is cut out just before it can reach the big forward as the Nigerian defence clears.

Nigeria pump the ball forward looking for Odemwingie and he does well to a win a corner on the right. It is whipped into the box, before being headed out to Onazi. The midfielder is in space 25 yards out from goal, but his strike is poor and goes harmlessly over the bar.

YELLOW CARD! Medunjanin is booked for taking down Musa as he threatend to run through on goal. The defender was not helped by Spahic, who gave away possession with a careless pass inside his own half.

CHANCE! Odemwingie steps up to take the set piece and sees his curling effort deflect just wide of the far post, with Begovic getting nowhere near the ball.

It is end to end at the moment and Bosnia break quickly with plenty of men in the attack. The ball is eventually played to Besic who is just outside the box. He has options either side of him, but decides to go for goal, but he can only curl his effort over the bar.

Nigeria are almost in behind when Emenike plays a wonderful pass into the box that looks for the run of Musa, but the forward takes his eye of the ball at the vital moment and sees the chance disappear.

Nigeria have shown far more attacking intent than in their opening match and Mikel tries his luck with a low drive from outside the box, that fizzes wide of the post.

CHANCE! Bosnia give the ball away poorly inside their own half yet again and Babatunde drives towards their goal. He is stopped by the defence, but the ball breaks kindly for Onazi. He must be nearly 30 yards out from goal, but he drills in a low effort that has Begovic scrambling across his line to save.

Bosnia are not looking comfortable at the back and they seem to been surprised by their opponents' strong start to this game. Musa especially is making some great runs and he is unlucky to see a long pass evade him after battling well for the ball.

I said Musa was looking lively and he tries his luck from range after cutting in from the left, but in the end his curling strike is easily saved by Begovic.

GOAL DISALLOWED! Controversial moment in the game, as Dzeko puts the ball in the net, but he is ruled offside. He had been played through by a wonderful pass from Pjanic and slotted confidently past Enyeama, but the flag was raised. The replays show that he was being played onside by Ambrose and his side are desperately unlucky not to be ahead.

That decision might have sparked Bosnia into life, as Hajrovic shows great skill to cut inside from the right, before drilling in a low strike that Enyeama holds onto at his front post.

CHANCE! The match has swung in Bosnia's favour and Pjanic feeds another brilliant pass through for Dzeko. This time he is onside, but his powerful strike is well tipped over the bar by Enyeama.

Nigeria steal the ball in the centre of midfield and break quickly down Bosnia's left. Onzai does well to burst towards the area and feeds Emenike, but the striker's effort on the turn is well wide of the target.

GOAL! Nigeria 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Peter Odemwingie)

Nigeria have probably been the better team so far and they have now taken the lead. Emenike showed great strength to burst past Spahic on the right and then drove into the box. He then looked up to spot the run of Odemwingie in the middle and the striker made no mistake with a low finish past Begovic.

That goal will prove a real blow to Bosnia, who should have been in the lead just a few minutes before. In fairness, Nigeria have shown the most threat going forward and their goalscorer tries to add a quickfire second when he picks the ball up in space outside the box. He gets the ball onto his left, but his low effort is comfortable for the keeper.

Bosnia come close to a response as Dzeko is picked out at the back post by Medunjanin, but his header is saved by Enyeama. He didn't make great contact with the ball on that occasion and should really had made it much harder for the keeper to stop.

Emenike is looking a real threat down this right and he is giving Lulic plenty to think about. His pace and strength has already played a part in his team's lead and he is looking to take on the defence at every chance he gets.

Nigeria are getting a lot of joy down the right and Musa shows great skill to work some space before firing in a low strike towards Begovic's near post. The keeper manages to hold onto his effort at the second time of asking, but the Super Eagles look the most likely to score the next goal at the moment.

Omeruo and Yobo are holding firm in the Nigerian backline, with Dzeko hardly having a sniff of the ball. The Bosnians are starting to get frustrated at how things are going for them, as they have not coped with a team that have been stronger and more energetic than they have this evening.

CHANCE! Dzeko may not have seen much of the ball, but he has a sight of the goal when Pjanic picks him out in the box. The ball comes to him on his unfavoured right foot and he ends up placing his attempt high over the bar.

We are going to have one minute of stoppage time at the end of the half.

Dzeko again has a shot on goal as he revives Lulic's pass from the left, but he gets his effort horribly wrong and fires the ball well wide of the post.

HALF-TIME: Nigeria 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

A very watchable half in Cuiaba has come to an end, with Nigeria leading 1-0 against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Peter Odemwingie's strike separates the sides and as things stand, the Europeans will be knockout out of the tournament.

Despite trailing, Bosnia have had far more of the ball, with 58% of the possession. We have seen plenty of shots on goal this evening too, with Nigeria having 10 efforts compared to their opponents nine strikes.

Should the scoreline stay the same at the end of the 90 minutes, then Bosnia will point to a poor decision from referee Peter O'Leary to disallow a perfectly legitimate goal from Dzeko. The Manchester City striker was very much onside as he ran onto Pjanic's through ball to score, but the flag was raised on the far side. I had hoped that the controversial decisions that we saw at the beginning of the World Cup would not be repeated, but sadly it looks like tonight's game could be remembered for the wrong reasons.

Goalscorer Peter Odemwingie bagged his 11th international goal for Nigeria in that first half. He scored six times in the Premier League last season after leaving Cardiff City for Stoke City in January, and has shown that his manager made the right call in restoring him to the side today.



The players are back out at the Arena Pantanal and the second half will be kicking off in just a few moments.

Bosnia-Herzegovina take the kick off and get the second half underway.

It's a positive start to the second half for the Bosnians as Mujdza charges to the byline before driving a cross into the middle. Dzeko meets it at the near post, but it is a tough chance for him and he can only turn the ball over the bar.

Bosnia are starting to crank up the pressure and Pjanic is looking to exert his influence on the match. He almost manages to slide Dzeko into the box, but Nigeria continue to hold firm at the back.

It's all Bosnia in the first few minutes of this half, with Nigeria struggling to see any off the ball. Pjanic shows his class again by playing a brilliant ball through for Mujdza down the right, but his final cross into the box is cut out before it can reach Dzeko.

CHANCE! Nigeria show that they will still prove to be an attacking threat in this match as Babatunde picks the ball up outside the box, before lashing in a low drive that is beaten away by Begovic.

SUBSTITUTION: Bosnia make the first change of the match, with Ibisevic coming on for Hajrovic.

SUBSTITUTION: It's another change for the Bosnians as Salihovic comes on to replace Lulic.

CHANCES! Nigeria have begun to see more of the ball in the past few minutes and following a sustained spell of possession deep inside their opponents' half they create two good openings, as Babatunde sees another powerful strike saved by the keeper, before Emenike latches onto a loose ball in the box and sees his close-range effort blocked by Begovic.

SUBSTITUTION: Bosnia make their third and final change of the evening, with Susic coming on to replace Medunjanin.

SUBSTITUTION: Nigeria respond by making a change of their own, as Ameobi replaces Musa.

Emenike has been brilliant all evening and he powers his way down the right yet again, before drilling in a low strike that Begovic blocks behind at his near post. It really has been a terrific display from the Fenerbahce man, who has caused no end of problems for the opposition.

It's just not happening for Bosnia at the moment, as they win a free kick in their opponents half and send plenty of men forward. Misimovic steps up to take the free kick, but his delivery is poor and heads out of play without giving anyone a chance.

Bosnia just do not look like scoring in this match and Dzeko has looked far from his best. His team have looked to him this evening, but his latest headed effort when picked out by Salihovic's cross into the middle goes astray. He is more than capable of popping up with a goal and his team need him more than ever right now.

CHANCE! What a huge chance this is for Ibisevic. Misimovic whips in a corner from the left and the striker is found unmarked in the middle, but he can only put his effort over the bar.

SUBSTITUTION: It's a second change for Nigeria, as Uzoenyi comes on for Babatunde.

Pjanic hasn't seen as much of the ball as earlier in the match, but he finds himself in space just outside the box and tries to pick out the bottom corner. His effort lacks the power to beat Enyeama though, as the keeper comfortably dives on the ball.

CHANCE! Begovic has been kept busy in the Bosnia goal this evening and he comes to his side's rescue again as he beats away Onazi's stinging effort from just outside the box.

YELLOW CARD! Mikel is Nigeria's first player of the evening to pick up a card following a foul on Pjanic.

CHANCE! As Bosnia press for the equaliser it has opened up space for Nigeria to exploit. They steal possession and do well to pick out Emenike, who twists past two defenders and fires a low effort just wide of the post.

Bosnia are starting to pump long balls into the box now as the clock ticks down. They are still unable to breach the Nigeria backline though, who have dealt with everything that has come their way in this second half.

Bosnia win a free kick around 40 yards out from goal and send everyone forward, but Misimovic's delivery is cleared. They eventually work the ball back to the midfielder on the edge of the box, but he scuffs his strike wide of the target.

We are going to have three minutes of stoppage time.

CHANCE! This is a huge chance for Dzeko. He is picked out by Pjanic following a corner, but can only power his header into the gloves of Enyeama. Either side of the keeper and Bosnia would have been level.

OFF THE POST! Unbelievable! The ball is tossed long into the box by Bosnia and lands at the feet of Dzeko. He manages to turn and gets a strike in on goal, but his effort is saved by Enyeama and comes crashing back off the post.

FULL-TIME: Nigeria 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

It's all over at the Arena Pantanal, where Nigeria have claimed their first win in the World Cup since 1998. The result means that Bosnia-Herzegovina have been knocked out of the tournament in their debut at the finals.

Odemwingie's goal has proved to be the difference this evening, but that does not tell the full story. Dzeko had seen an effort wrongly ruled out and had two glorious chances to save his team in stoppage time. Bosnia have not played badly in either of their games, but their lack of quality in front of goal has cost them.

That's all we've got time for here this evening. Please stay with us at Sports Mole for all of the latest news and live coverage of every game at the World Cup. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Goodbye!

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Argentina's forward and captain Lionel Messi prepares to kick the ball to score his team's second goal during the Group F football match between Argentina and Bosnia Hercegovina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on J
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