Uche puts the Super Eagles in the lead

Africans in particular, Nigerian hearts breathed easy as Almeria’s Kalou Uche’s harmless but temptious free kick found its way to the back of the Greek net to give the Super Eagles a deserved first half lead.

A resulting free kick taken by Uche surprisingly ended up in the Greek net after Lukman Haruna had been felled 25 yards out on the 16^th minute mark.

Though a scrappy game, the Nigerians are making frantic efforts to keep the ball on the turf in order to impose their play but Otto Rehagel’s men will not allow it.

They however would have to do it the hard way after seeing their defensive midfielder Sani Kaita sent off 10 minutes from half time for retaliation even though his Greek counterpart seemed to have exaggerated his act.

Vincent Enyeama in post once more again emerged Nigeria’s hero as he stopped a clear shot from Dimitris Salpingidis after Karagounis has put him through clear on goal.

Their persistence however paid off in the 44^th minute when Dimitris Salpingidis’s shot deflected off Haruna to pull even.

Nigeria are looking very shaky since the sending off and would have to pull something out of their surprise bag to secure victory against a Greek side which smells blood and are pushing for the kill.