Could the real Nigerians stand up? That was the questions thousands of Kenyan soccer supporters were asking and when Obafemi Martins emerged from the bench, he proved the king pin to secure Nigeria a 3-2 win at Kasarani.
The loss was Kenya's tenth against Nigeria in their 12 encounters having drawn twice. It eventually buried Kenya's hopes of making a return to the Africa Nations Cup in Angola in January. Kenya last featured in this tournament six years ago in Tunisia.
Nigeria emerged the top team in Group 2 with 12 points and qualified for the world's top soccer event after Mozambique beat Tunisia 1-0 in the other Group 2 qualifier tie in Maputo on Saturday.
Tunisia took the second spot in the group standings with 11 points, while Mozambique finished third with seven. Kenya remains at the bottom with three points.
Only the winners of the group sail through to the World Cup finals in South Africa while the top three, Tunisia, Nigeria and Mozambique will be heading to Angola for the continental championships.
It was the visitors who found their rhythm first as they surged forward to seek an early opener. They won a free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box.
In the 12th minute, Odemwinge dribbled through the Kenya defence to set up Yakubu Ayiegbeni whose effort went wide with only Willice Ochieng to beat in goal.
Denmark based Emmanuel Ake received a pass from Oliech from center field throw, dribbled past one Nigerian defender and returned it to Oliech who beat Vincent Enyeama in goal in the 15thminute.
Nigeria responded and put Kenya to pressure to see the Super Eagles gain three corners. Poor defence from the set piece saw Kenya right back Julius Owino and Ochieng clearing from the goal line.
Yusuf Alitanda came in for Olofinjana who had been injured in the 30th minute. But with the battle set in the midfield both team found it hard to angle their strikes on the two goals.
Only Odemwinge weak effort from the 20 yard area tested Ochiengin goal while Harambee Stars would have gone two up had Oliech's cross found its target as it cut through the Nigerian defence in a counter attack.
Deep into injury time, Oliech cut through the Nigerian defence but could not squeeze a shot in the narrowed corner near the post with Enyeama body blocking the shot.
Nigeria defence led by captain Joseph Yobo and Victor Obinna were not the best pairing and in more than one occasion exchanged words as their leaky defence exposed them.
Mike Enyeama opened up Kenya defence in the 58th minute but his effort was weak. Next it was Yobo whose long-range free kick rebound off the cross bar. But in the 62nd minute, substitute Obafemi Martins scored when Odemwinge put him through.
Three minutes later it was Yakubu Ayiegibeni who scored from another defence error from Kenya.
The tide went in favour of Kenya as they settled their nerves but, it proved as a hard nut to crack the Nigerian defence. But when all looked lost, Allan Wanga emerged from the substitution bench to head Harambee Stars level in the 79th minute.
But Kenya defence was exposed five minutes later as Nigeria utilized their set piece from a short corner to provide Martins with a chance to score from close range to lead 3-2 in the 84th minute.
That marked the end of the battle as Nigeria opted to waste time and succeeded to hold the scores at 3-2 in their favor.
New Zealand joined other countries in the trip to South Africa after they beat Bahrain in the playoff in Asia.
Nigeria will join Cameroon, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, who sealed their tickets with a match to play, in the World Cup, which will be played in South Africa from June 11 to July 11.
Source: news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/15/content_12458109.htm