IN the past four years, no African team has defeated the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a competitive game. But Saturday in Calabar, the record books crashed, no thanks to a 2-3 defeat suffered in the hands of visiting Red Devils of Congo in the 2015 African Nations Cup qualifiers.
It was the worst start by the coach Steven Keshi-led team in defence of the Nations Cup crown they won in South Africa in 2013.
The result in Calabar has thrown Group A wide open, following South Africa’s 3-0 victory over Sudan in Omdurman on Friday night.
Stephen Keshi’s side opened the scoring through Efe Ambrose after 14 minutes but Prince Oniangue drew the visitors level just three minutes later.
The Congolese tutored by veteran coach Claude Leroy, made it two through Thievy Bifouma, who scored five minutes before half-time. He later converted a penalty early in the second half to make it 3-1, after Ogenyi Onazi committed a blunder.
Nigeria pulled one back through Warri Wolves striker, Gbolahan Salami in the 89th minute as he smashed home from close range from an uncleared corner, but it was not enough to save the Eagles, who had boasted of roasting the visitors.
The Super Eagles will travel to Cape Town, South Africa on Wednesday under pressure to get a result against the Bafana Bafana.
The last time the Super Eagles lost to an African country in a competitive game was against Guinea in the race to 2012 African Nations Cup under coach Samson Siasia.
For Congo Brazzaville, the 3-2 victory in Calabar was a sweet one, after their DR Congo counterparts had suffered a 0-2 home defeat to the Lions of Cameroun in Lubumbashi.
In that game, Cameroun’s goal heroes on the day were Clinton N’jie and Vincent Aboubakar.
The match signaled the first for Cameroun since their poor display at the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil. Coach Volker Finke made several changes to his team.
Cameroun’s next tie is against Ivory Coast in Yaounde as DR Congo travel to face Sierra Leone. Both games will come up on Wednesday night..