It was a tale of the unexpected as visiting Red Devils of Congo this evening at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, South-South Nigeria, ensured a heart-breaking start for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Boasts of a rout of the visitors by the African champions fell flat, with the Red Devils, under the tutelage of veteran gaffer Claude Le Roy came back from an early goal to win 3-2.
Hopes of a victory for the hosts had risen high when Efe Ambrose opened scores in the 13th minute with a header inside the box.
The Congolese, however, cancelled the goal two minutes later when their skipper, Prince Oniangue, beat the Nigerian defence from the right and slotted home for the equaliser.
Thievy Bifouma put Congo ahead in the 40th minute off a corner kick.
It got worse for the African champions on the restart Bifouma was fouled in the vital area by Ogenyi Onazi, picking himself up to stab the resultant penalty past goalkeeper Austin Ejide.
Nigeria pulled a goal back through substitute Gbolahan Salami, who took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to beat goalkeeper Massa Chansel with a minute left of regulation time.
The result left fans who thronged the stadium to cheer their darling Eagles in shock, with some of them booing the team towards the end of the game and cheering every move by the visitors.
•Photo shows Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi.
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