22 June,2014 07:48 AM IST | | Agencies
African champions Nigeria eliminated World Cup debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina, thanks to Peter Odemwingie's goal Saturday
Mato Grosso (Brazil): African champions Nigeria eliminated World Cup debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina, thanks to Peter Odemwingie's goal Saturday.
Nigeria grabbed their first World Cup finals win since 1998, gathering four points from two games and placing second after Argentina who have already advanced to the second round after beating Iran 1-0 for their second straight victory, Xinhua reported.
Nigeria's forward Peter Odemwingie (L) celebrates scoring with Nigeria's forward Emmanuel Emenike during the Group F football match between Nigeria and Bosnia-Hercegovina at the Pantanal Arena in Cuiaba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO
Nigeria are to play Argentina in their final group game Thursday.
Odemwingie scored the winner in the 29th minute, seven minutes after Bosnia-Herzegovina's goal by Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko was incorrectly ruled offside.
"This victory can have a huge impact on us as it brings confidence with it and if we get to the last 16 who knows what can happen, maybe a repeat of what happened in last year's Africa Cup of Nations where we got better and better," said Odemwingie.
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The 36-year-old only needed two minutes to fulfill the mission.
Bosnia-Herzegovina are now unable to advance, regardless of the result against Iran in their final group match Wednesday.
