Uganda stunned three-time African champions Nigeria 1-0 in an international friendly decided at the Akwa Ibom international stadium in Uyo on Wednesday.
Miya Farouk was the unlikely hero for the Cranes as his deflected strike, ten minutes from time, gave the East Africans a famous win.
The big news before kickoff was Vincent Enyeama starting against the Cranes and earning his 100th cap — the second Nigerian after Joseph Yobo to ever reach that milestone.
On six minutes, Nigeria had their first shot on target through Anthony Ujah but Ugandan goalkeeper Dennis Onyango saved well with the onrushing Ahmed failing to bury the rebound.
Goalscoring opportunities were few and few between early on in a first half lacking in genuine quality.
On 14 minutes, the Cranes almost opened the scoring but Jeffrey Massa’s free kick was deflected away for a corner.
Uganda continued to probe and in the 18th minute, Chima Akas’s fortuitous blocked almost resulted in an own goal.
Nigeria responded immediately when a decent passing moved freed Steven Ukoh whose rasping shot from outside the box warmed the palms of Onyango.
Massa continued to remain Uganda’s main goal threat early on. He fired in another powerful free kick from a tight angle in the 26th minute but saw his effort fly wide off the target.
Three minutes before the break, Onyango had to be alert to deny Musa a crack at goal as the CSKA man tried to make the most of a defensive error.
The Super Eagles revved the engine after the break. Watford attacker Odion Ighalo was played through by Musa in the 51st minute and after showing impressive upper body strength to create some space, he fired a weak shot which Onyango picked up easily.
Ighalo came close again three minutes later but failed to dance his way past the Ugandan defence before going down in a heap in the penalty area.
Daniel Amokachi rang the changes with Akeem Latifu and KAA Gent forward Moses Simon thrown into the fray.
Simon, playing from the left, began to create spaces with his pace and penetration and came close to scoring twice in a space of two minutes.
Both sides continued to trade chances, but eventually the visitors took the lead following a lightening break.
Miya was at the end of a sweeping team move and his goal-bound effort was deflected by Akeem Latifu past a stranded Enyeama who desperately tried to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net.
Aaron Samuel was thrown into the fray as a late substitute in place of the misfiring Ighalo, but the Cranes held out for a richly-deserved win.
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