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Nigeria’s 18 match unbeaten run ended abruptly yesterday when they lost 2-1 to the Uruguayans. Stephen Keshi made two changes from the team that played against Tahiti, with Sunday Mba and Anthony Ujah dropping to the bench for John Ugo and Brown Ideye respectively. The South Americans started brightest and tested Vincent Enyeama early on. The Nigerian goalie tipped Cristian Rodriguez long range effort over the bar but as the game settled, Nigeria took control of the game. However, Uruguay went ahead against the run of play through their captain, Diego Lugano, who found himself unmarked in Nigeria’s box, connecting to a Diego Forlan low cross to score his ninth International goal. Nigeria rallied back and got a reply through midfielder, John Mikel Obi. He collected a pass from Brown Ideye, left Diego Lugano for dead before unleashing an unstoppable effort past Fernando Muslera with his left leg. Things went awry for the Super Eagles when Nnamdi Oduamadi was forced off through injury at the end of the first half and was replaced by Michael Babatunde. Uruguay went ahead after the restart; the attacking trio, Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan combined to get the goal. Ahmed Musa was dispossessed by right back, Maxi Perreira who released Suarez and Cavani in a swift counter attack, both combined to free Forlan who raced down the left of Nigeria’s penalty area and from there he blasted a tremendously devastating strike past a hapless Enyeama. Super Eagles controlled much of the game but couldn’t convert their possession into goals as Uruguay held on for the important win. Nigeria needs at least a win against World Champions Spain in the last fixture to have hopes of progressing to the next round; Uruguay play the minnows, Tahiti on the same day. Nigeria: 01 Enyeama – 05 Ambrose, 02 Obobona, 22 Omeruo, 03 Echiejile – 04 Ogu (Mba – 66′), 10 Mikel, 13 Ogude – 07 Musa, 08 Brown (Akpala – 73′ Booked), 20 Oduamadi (Babatunde – 45′ Booked) Subs: 16 Ejide, 23 Agbim, 06 Egwueke, 12 Kwambe, 21 Francis, 15 Babatunde, 18 Eze, 19 Mba, 09 Akpala, 11 Mohammed, 14 Ujah Uruguay: 01 Muslera – 16 Pereira, 02 Lugano (Booked), 03 Godin, 22 Caceres – 07 Rodriguez (Pereira – 87′), 17 Arevalo, 20 Gonzalez – 09 Suarez (Coates – 83′ Booked), 10 Forlan, 21 Cavani Subs: 12 Castillo, 23 Silva, 04 Coates, 13 Aguirregaray, 19 Scotti, 05 Gargano, 06 Pereira, 08 Eguren, 14 Lodeiro, 15 Perez, 18 Ramirez, 11 Hernandez Ref: Kuipers Att: 18,000

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This article was first published on 21st June 2013

arinzeude

Arinze Ude is a PhD Student at the University of the West of England Bristol, UK, where he's exploring on the mechanisms of donor cell leukaemia. He shares his deep thoughts on his blog and the Naked Convos. He is keen to promote personal development of the Nigerian youth via thought-provoking articles.