The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has been petitioned to cancel the yesterday’s victory of Nigeria over Bosnia-Herzegovina in a Group F match of the on-going Brazil 2014 World Cup, even as angry fans are rushing in their thousands to sign a petition seeking to send the referee home.

Nigeria won the battle of Cuiaba 1-0 after Osaze Odemwingie won the ball in the midfield and passed to Emenike on the right. Out-muscling his marker, Emenike laid for Odemwingie, who had sprinted to the goal area and comfortably tapped in, 28 minutes into the game.

With the victory, Nigeria are now second to Argentina, who earlier defeated Iran by a late goal to remain on top of the group, while Bosnia-Herzegovina are condemned to return home after their last group match against Iran.

“An online petition has already drawn 20,000 signatures to remove referee Peter O’Leary from the World Cup after an image appeared of him ‘celebrating’ with Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama,” says a report this morning in The Independent of Britain.

“The appearance of the picture has prompted a Bosnian fan to send a petition to Fifa asking for the removal of O’Leary and the match to be chanfed to 1-1,” the report adds.

Bosnia-Herzegovina harshly criticised the referee, from New Zealand, accusing him of wrongly disallowing an Edin Dzeko strike after 21 minutes.

•Photo shows goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama allegedly celebrating with referee Peter O’Leary (right) after Nigeria beat Bosnia-Herzegovina Nigeria in the on-going World Cup in Brazil.