SPORT Congo topple Eagles in friendly

DR Congo yesterday defeated unimpressive Super Eagles 2-0 in a friendly match played in Vise, Belgium to hand coach Sunday Oliseh his first loss in charge of the Super Eagles after three matches.

Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie located Dieumerci Mbokani, who turned sharply to fire past goalkeeper Carl Ikeme for the opening goal as early as the sixth minute.

A ball-watching Nigeria defence was punished for Congo to double their lead in the 30th minute, when Jordan Nkololo tucked the ball home after a great piece of attacking play from the left wing

In the 41st minute, Ogenyi Onazi’s free kick was heading for the top corner of the DRC goal, but goalkeeper Parfait Madanda did well to push it away for a corner kick.

Nigeria chased the game from the opening goal, but they did not create any clear-cut chance at goal and Congo were also resolute in their defending.

There were no goals in the second half as Nigeria failed to really trouble the Congolese defence.

The Leopards even had an effort by the tricky Bolasie chalked off for offside in the 63rd minute.

They looked the more likely to score again and Oliseh was forced to make a defensive change in the 65th minute, when he brought in defensive midfielder Obiora Nwankwo for the ineffective Watford striker Odion Ighalo.

The introduction of Emmanuel Emenike and Moses Simon may have brought some urgency to the Eagles attack, but that was about it as they could only force a big save from the Congo goalkeeper in the dying moments of the encounter.

Three-time African champions Nigeria will now shift their focus to an even tougher preposition when they take on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Sunday in Brussels.