Nigeria edged closer to booking a place in the World Cup second round after Osaze Odemwingie’s first half strike gave the Super Eagles a 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in a Group F match in Cuiaba.

The win put Nigeria in second place with four points, two points behind group leaders Argentina that have booked a place in the second round as a result while Bosnia have crashed out of the mundial with a game to play.

The Stoke City striker got a place in coach Stephen Keshi’s starting line-up in place of Victor Moses, while Ramon Azeez was dropped for Volyn Lutsk midfielder Michael Babatunde.

Both players justified their inclusion in the starting line-up as Nigeria began the match in far better shape than in the opening match against Iran, creating a number of chances.

Emmanuel Emenike was in bullish form for the Eagles, using his stamina to trouble the erratic Emir Spahic to create opportunities for Ahmed Musa who fluffed his lines in front of goal.

Edin Dzeko then had the ball in the net but was flagged offside, though replays showed the Msnchester City striker was onside when put through on goal. That call would prove crucial.

Odemwingie also went close with a well struck freekick which sailed just wide of Stoke teammate Asmir Begovic’s goal but the recalled striker soon made his mark when he put Nigeria ahead in the 29th minute.
The Stoke striker began the move from just inside the Nigerian half, finding Emenike out right. The Fernabahce forward would get the better of Spahic again before squaring the ball to Odemwingie who slotted home through the legs of Begovic.
The goal was Nigeria’s first World Cup goal from open play since France 98.
Musa came close to getting a second with a low strike from the edge of the area which Begovic got down well to keep out as Nigeria finished the first half a goal up.

Bosnia came out the slightly better side in the second half, slowly gaining composure as the Super Eagles looked content to hold on to Odemwingie’s goal.

Miralem Pjanic began to assert his influence for Bosnia, creating chances but Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and the central pairing of Kenneth Omeruo and captain Joseph Yobo stood in Bosnia’s way to an equaliser.
Enyeama would earn a crucial win for Nigeria in a dramatic conclusion to the match, saving a Dzeko header on the line in the 90th minute before pushing a Dzeko shot onto the post deep in stoppage time as Nigeria held on for a hard-fought win.
With his second cleansheet, Enyeama joins Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa as the only goalkeepers who are yet to concede after two matches played.
The win meanwhile is Nigeria’s first at the World Cup since beating Bulgaria at the 1998 World Cup in France, which is also the last time Nigeria made it past the group stages at the World Cup.
Nigeria will join Argentina in the last 16 by avoiding defeat against the South Americans in their final group match on June 25 or if Iran fail to defeat Bosnia same day. A win for Nigeria over Argentina would however see the Super Eagles finish top of the group.