Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama has admitted that he had no clue to the Kenyan free-kick that beat him on Saturday in the World Cup qualifying match played in Calabar. Francis Kahata put Kenya ahead with a curling free kick that left the best goalkeeper of South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations stranded. And in reaction to the goal Enyeama said he was taken aback by the style of the player.
He said, “It was one of the best free-kicks I have ever seen. Truly I never expected such a kick from a Kenyan; that’s the kind of shot you expect to get from a Brazilian, South Americans. But you saw what happened; the ball curled very well into that angle. I was surprised by his skill. One of the best free-kicks I have ever seen. I have seen a lot of free-kicks but not a top corner like that.
“It was a perfect kick into the right corner.”
The goal shook the Eagles bench and left fans at the UJ Esuene Stadium wondering how the match would end.
Nigeria, crowned African Nations Cup champions just last month, needed a dramatic late equaliser to rescue a 1-1 home draw with bottom team Kenya whom fans had expected would be blown away. At the end the fans had to pray for an equaliser all through.
Substitute Nnamdi Oduamadi, who plays for Italian second-tier club Varese, scored three minutes into stoppage time to save the Nigerians from an embarrassing defeat. The match was Nigeria’s first since their success at the Nations Cup.
It was the second draw in three games for Nigeria who have five points, level with Malawi at the top of the group.
Namibia have three points from three matches and Kenya are bottom on two points.